Residents in parts of south Minneapolis grapple with whether police are present enough

Minneapolis' 12th Ward residents reported inadequate police presence, leading Council Member Aurin Chowdhury to seek data on police response times. An analysis revealed that from October to March, only 19. 8% of nearly 3,000 calls were answered by officers stationed within the ward. Resident Verlynn Schmalle asserted that such statistics indicate a significant under-policing issue, emphasizing that the area's 36,000 residents often lack timely police assistance. Police Chief Brian O'Hara acknowledged the impact of property crimes on community safety, despite them being categorized as lower priority for emergency response.

Staffing challenges persist within the Minneapolis Police Department, which is required to maintain 731 sworn officers but currently has fewer than 600. The 12th Ward is also affected by the delayed opening of a new precinct headquarters, expected in 2026. As officers often respond from outside the ward, residents like Tim Bonham express skepticism about the effectiveness of reporting crimes. Limited data on police response times in other areas of Minneapolis complicates comparisons and potential solutions.