MINNEAPOLIS — It's no secret that trust in the Minneapolis Police Department is low after the past four years – just ask Chief Brian O'Hara.
"There is no question that there is mistrust," he said. "There's no way we're going to be able to move forward and reduce crime and keep those reductions down if we're also not building trust with our residents at the same time."
Because of that, O'Hara and the department are actively trying to be more visible in the community. Tuesday night, the Chief, along with officers from various departments, came out for a conversation over a hot meal.
Those conversations focused on what needs to change, what residents need, and how MPD can be more visible in their community.
"To be around, engaging with young people, and just for people to see that we're humans like everybody else," O'Hara said.
"Why are we here in the first place," he continued. "This is who we're here for, we're here for the community."
It's a community that longtime residents like Michele Jones has seen change in her decades in the neighborhood.
"I would say it's not as safe," she said. "We used to connect more, have more gatherings, and things have changed."
Michele and her daughter, Keisha, say they don't know the officers who patrol the neighborhood – but they want to.
"That officer knows this area, recognizes the people that comes and goes," Keisha said.
"That sets a standard of expectation within the department that I think is necessary for the greater community," she continued.
It's why both the Jones' and O'Hara say events like this are important, so officers know the people in the areas they patrol, and residents know who's responding to a call.
"Not just to show up when bad things are happening, but to show when good things are happening," Scott Redd, CEO and President of Sabathani Community Center, where this event happened, said.
O'Hara says they'd like to do more of these events, but admits it's difficult due to understaffing. He also says there's the possibility of asking community leaders to help with new officers, to help introduce them into the community.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.