ST PAUL, Minn. — In a room named for fellowship, community leaders in St. Paul met to discuss tough love – and changing the direction of violence in the city.
"You don't keep doing the same things over and over and keep expecting a different outcome," a speaker said.
Inside Arlington Hills Luther Church in St. Paul, dozens met to share their frustration over recent violence, including nine homicides in a two month stretch earlier in the fall.
Many met in November to decry that violence, announcing they'd be looking to hold a meeting that became tonight's meeting, to discuss how to stop the violence.
Since that meeting, three more people were killed.
"It's gonna have to be done with community, it's gonna have to be done with law enforcement, it's gonna have to be done with our city officials," Richard Pittman, president of the NAACP of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said.
Also joining Thursday's conversation – St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry.
"We're back into more normal levels, but to be clear, any homicide is too many," Henry said.
Adding to the conversation – new changes in the St. Paul city budget, passed by the city council earlier this week. That budget includes cuts to the departments overtime budget, something the council says the police department has overspent on.
The department is down more than 60 staff positions.
"Obviously those cuts are challenging, I'm honestly a little disappointed and a little frustrated, but what i can tell you is this – this department is going to respond to 911 calls. If this community calls the police, I wouldn't want them to be worried at all," Henry said.
"Does that give you pause or give you worry about being able to do this?" KARE11's Ian Russell asked.
"You know, obviously it's concerning, and it's always challenging," Henry responded.
Discussion at the meeting involved being present in young people's lives, ways to invest in their future, and even childcare options.
"We want to meet monthly, in order to help whatever issues, we want to lead people to resources," Pittman said. "We want to lead people to help."
