EDINA, Minn. — The Edina Police chief is trying to hire six more officers as the city not only grows, but is in the midst of a recent rash of violence as well.
There have been three shootings in or near Southdale Center this year, including one last weekend where a 23-year-old man died. And on the day before Thanksgiving, another man was reportedly stabbed randomly at a nearby bus stop.
"Population growth means additional services," said Chief Todd Milburn. "It's not just crime, it's part of a larger picture of things that are going on that you have to scale up your resources for."
Chief Milburn says there are currently 58 sworn officers, but he wants to add six more in the next two years. But like a lot of departments across the country, recruiting officers is challenging.
The city has implemented a cadet program to recruit recent high school graduates and pay for their curriculum with the intent to hire them. So far, it has resulted in two new officers.
Chief Milburn also says the department came to an agreement with the mall to build a new police substation inside it and staff it with two officers. That will begin at the start of the new year.
The mall is also adding a grocery store and new restaurants, along side several new apartment complexes in that area.
"That's a win for customers and for ownership, but also a win for a police department so that we can build those relationships and make sure we have the resources in the right spots," said Chief Milburn.
He notes that Edina is a safe city and that crime trends come and go — something he can attest to with 30 years of law enforcement experience.
"It's also unfortunately part of a larger pattern we're seeing across the metro area," said Chief Milburn. "We get resources in play right away."
He admits the city and the department are "fortunate," but that Edina is a smaller agency and has to rely on and work closely with nearby law enforcement partners as many agencies continue to confront challenges.
"It's just trying to get the right people to the table to figure out the right solution and that's the heavy lift ahead," said Chief Milburn.
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