MINNEAPOLIS — Law enforcement invited media to witness a glimpse of Operation Safe Summer, a multi-agency partnership to strategize crime response.
The response comes after a violent weekend where three people died amid multiple shootings and a stabbing.
This is the third summer that the MPD has partnered with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the BCA, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Metro Transit Police Department and others.
The law enforcement officials discussed hot spots for crime in various precincts, how to organize their resources later in the night and compared notes on suspected violent individuals.
Officials said the operation results in the recovery of dozens of guns, narcotics, and leads to arrests.
"We're utilizing the data trying to target those individuals committing the most harm in the community, identifying them and removing them from that," said Drew Evans, the BCA superintendent.
"This week is just continuing a larger strategy with all of law enforcement, working together at various levels, to try and continue the decrease in violence that the city has seen over the last two years," said MPD Chief Brian O'Hara.
O'Hara said smaller versions of the collaborative operation occur throughout the year. The reason this year's collaboration happened so deep into summer was because of Officer Jamal Mitchell's death, according to O'Hara.
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office sent out one example of Operation Safe Summer leading to an arrest on Tuesday.
HCSO detectives located a stolen vehicle in north Minneapolis, according to a press release. MPD, the HCSO, and other agencies attempted to stop the occupied vehicle.
According to the release, they did not initiate a pursuit, but a law enforcement helicopter was able to track the vehicle. Eventually, the vehicle drove into an alley and HCSO detectives tried to block the driver in who eventually fled.
The suspect 'unlawfully' entered a home in north Minneapolis, according to the release. For about three hours, multiple law enforcement agencies surrounded the home, set up a perimeter, and spoke with the suspect.
The 34-year-old man eventually stepped outside and was arrested.
MPD said in the following week, they will have more information on the effectiveness of this year's Safe Summer campaign.