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Inspector's Insights

Inspector Matt Clark

This is the first edition of the new quarterly Fifth Precinct newsletter. I'm very excited about being able to provide current information on public safety matters to the residents of Southwest Minneapolis. This newsletter will contain information on the status of 5^th Precinct initiatives, updates on crime issues, crime prevention strategies and training, and highlights on arrests and public safety concerns. 
 

Thank you for registering to receive this newsletter. Please feel free to email our newsletter to your neighbors.

Southwest Minneapolis has experienced a continued drop in overall crime since the beginning of the year. Currently, crime has decreased by 12.73% from last year. Last year, crime in Southwest Minneapolis was also down 10% from the previous year. These decreases are the largest in the city, and we are excited to see crime numbers continue to trend downward. 
  

One of our most effective crime prevention strategies is strong connections between police officers and the public. For this reason, you will see an increase in the number of beat officers working during afternoon and evening hours, the times of day when most of you are out and about. Many of these beat officers will be out on bicycles when the weather warms up, and I encourage you to introduce yourselves and get to know them. I would like to thank our many community supporters who work with our beat officers daily. Strong relationships forge strong communities.

One of the Fifth Precinct's 2011 goals is to continue to provide prompt and professional police service. I'm happy to announce that our average 911 call response time in 2010 was 7 minutes and 26 seconds. The Fifth Precinct had the best time in the city. Our prioritized emergency calls receive a quicker response than 7 minutes. We will continue to provide prompt services in 2011.   

Southwest Minneapolis is a very safe place to play, work and live. As the weather warms, I would like to remind residents to keep their valuables locked and out of sight.We can prevent crime, deter criminals, and make our neighborhoods safer by practicing crime prevention techniques. 

For more information on how to protect your property, visit  http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/

Have a safe and enjoyable spring!

Inspector Matt Clark

5^th Precinct Commander

Officer of the Year

For years, the Minneapolis Police Department has designated an Officer of the Year for each Precinct. The award is given to officers who show consistently superb performance on the street, including: 

• Great community contact
• Professionalism
• Proactive police work

The 5^th Precinct 2010 Officer of the Year award went to Uptown night Beat Officers Adam Chard and Robert Illetschko, for their performance individually and as a team. Beat officers are assigned a geographic area and spend the majority of their time within that space, getting to know the businesses and residents. They answer 911 calls and have the chance to do proactive work.

Their knowledge of their beat puts them in a prime position to be able to react even more efficiently to crimes occurring within the beat. 

Uptown Beat Officers Rob Illetschko and Adam Chard

Officer Chard has been a Minneapolis Police officer for 13 years. He has spent his entire career in the 5^th Precinct, where he has worked patrol, Community Response Team (CRT), Directed Patrol (DP), and now the Uptown Beat. Officer Chard said of working the Uptown Beat:

"Rob and I have enjoyed working the beat because it gives us a chance to work closely with the Uptown neighborhood and build relationships with the businesses, Uptown Association and other neighborhood groups, and residents.  It's a unique and trendy neighborhood and a great place to be a cop.  We have worked hard to help reduce crime and our goal is to continue to make Uptown a safe place to live, visit, and do business."

Officer Illetschko has been with the Minneapolis Police Department for 14 years, serving nearly the entirety of that time in the 5^th Precinct and, more specifically, primarily in the district that encompasses Uptown. Regarding the Uptown Beat, Officer Illetschko stated:

"I have always enjoyed Uptown and I believe it to be the nicest and most interesting area of Minneapolis. This will be my third year working exclusively as the Uptown Beat Officer. My partner and I have found the job to be extremely rewarding and we have found a great amount of job satisfaction working there. We have found that those who work and reside in Uptown take their public safety very seriously and we both have a great amount of pride in the fact that we have made a positive impact on the quality of life for all those who enjoy the area. We both feel very fortunate that we get to come to work every shift and get the opportunity to serve the people of Uptown."

In several instances, other officers have been approached by Uptown employees and asked, "Are Rob and Adam working tonight?" The connections made by these beat officers continue to support the area they work in and foster an increased feeling of safety and community in one of the most popular areas of 5^th Precinct. 

The Importance of Block Clubs 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

                                                                            -Margaret Mead

Imagine waking up to the sun shining, birds singing and a light breeze wafting through the windows. It's a perfect summer day in Minneapolis. Daily household chores are tended to and you're ready to get out in the world and enjoy the day. Walking through your backyard, you notice that the rose bushes are budding and the grass could use some more fertilizer. Before delving into the yard work, a stroll through the neighborhood is in order. Venturing out into the alley, you glance at your garage and your heart sinks.

A graffiti tagger has been hard at work defacing the side of the garage. Cleaning up the mess and repainting the whole garage is not what you had in mind for this gorgeous day, not to mention that paint and brushes weren't in the budget for the month.

Now imagine this same scenario, but you're an elderly person, living alone and not physically able to remove the graffiti or repaint the garage. The cost of having the city remove the offensive markings is unimaginable on your fixed income.

This is exactly what happened to a resident in the Lyndale neighborhood. Luckily, the block that she lived on was tight-knit and had an involved and caring block club. Neighbors pitched in and bought paint and supplies out of their own pockets and fixed the damage. After they were finished, they relaxed and enjoyed each others' company over some snacks.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

~*~

Having fun at a block party!

When hearing the phrase "block club," many people immediately think of block parties. Block parties are a lot of fun and can help keep the neighborhood connected but the real meaning is much deeper and more powerful than just a social gathering.

Block clubs are the foundation of a strong neighborhood. They represent areas where people know each other, problems are solved, people feel safe and life is good-- or where neighbors are all working together for the common goal of reaching that point.

Minneapolis is a city full of strong block clubs and block leaders. Fifth Precinct is no exception.

Block clubs provide a way for people to get to know one another. Knowing each other increases awareness and decreases the opportunity for crimes to occur. Being best friends with everyone on the block is not necessary, but knowing the cars they drive, which house they live in and who their children and pets are is imperative to knowing what is normal on the block and what is out of place.

Block clubs work best when everyone is involved. More than one leader is welcome and in fact makes it easier and more fun. It doesn't take a lot to be a block leader or be involved. Many blocks have one party or gathering a year, while some have multiple events. Movie nights, progressive dinners, alley beautification and bike parades are just some of the ideas for making your block a more welcoming place to live.

Does your block have a block club leader or are you interested in becoming a block leader? Contact Chelsea Adams or Amy Lavender for more information.

Here's what two of the current block leaders have to say:

• I send email SAFE updates at least weekly to my block. These contain the weekly crime maps, but frequently contain other information like snow emergencies, recycling reminders, safety tips, etc. It's very satisfying to get emails back thanking me for the effort. That's when you know that you are doing the right thing.
  -George, Fulton
• If you don't know your neighbors, you miss out on all these great people!! All the fun! Truly exceptional people who bring substance and richness to my life.
  -Anne, Kingfield

You'll find that with block clubs, you get back more than you give.

5th Precinct Open House 

5th Precinct Open House 2010

Every year during National Police Week, the Minneapolis Police Department precincts open their doors to the public. The events are family-oriented and include demonstrations and information from K9, the Bomb Unit, Mounted Patrol, and many more city departments.

Refreshments will be provided. The event is held rain or shine. The Open House is free and everyone is welcome.

Please join us at the Fifth Precinct for family-friendly fun!

Fifth Precinct Open House
 Thursday, May 19, 6-8pm

3101 Nicollet Ave, 55408

Workshops 

Everyday Heroes

With temperatures hovering near -20, Officers Ben Henrich and Adam Thorsten were called out to check on a 57-year-old male who hadn't shown up for work and wasn't answering the phone. A concerned friend called 911 on what is known as a check the welfare call. The friend wanted officers dispatched to attempt to make contact with the citizen, who had previous health concerns.

When Officers Henrich and Thorsten arrived, the lights were on inside the house. After knocking on the door repeatedly and calling inside the residence with no answer, Officer Thorsten made his way to the rear of the home. Through the glass patio door, he saw a man lying on the floor. The man was not moving and not responding to verbal requests or knocking.

The officers made the decision to force entry into the home as it appeared to be a medical emergency. Rescue and ambulance were called to the scene. The patient was very confused and had possibly been on the floor for up to four days, unable to get up. He was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Thanks to a concerned friend and two of the Fifth Precinct's diligent officers, a life was saved on a blustery winter night. Both officers received Letters of Appreciation from Inspector Matt Clark to be placed in their personnel files.

Community Corner 

If you've driven down Nicollet Avenue recently, you may have noticed that things look a little different around 38^th Street.New businesses have cropped up.The store fronts look cleaner and the general feeling of the area is safer.

38th Street  & Nicollet Ave

Several of the businesses had windows crowded with advertisements and other signage, making it almost impossible to see inside or out. A group of concerned parties, including representatives from the neighborhood association and city departments, visited each of the businesses. They explained the benefits of removing some of the signage and the consequences if the signs weren't removed. All of the owners complied within days of the request, without any fines being issued.

There were a few concerns early in 2011 about some suspicious activity around the bus stops that made transit users and residents uncomfortable.  With assistance from Metro Transit and the Minneapolis Police Department, the problem people were flushed out and removed from the area.There haven't been any complaints since.

The improvements provide more opportunity for all the businesses to shine. There are several restaurants at the location, affording a range of choice from casual American dining to Mexican and South American cuisine, as well as a chance to swing in for some wings. There are corner markets, a tattoo shop, a barber, a hardware store and much more! Watch for more exciting changes in the future.

Notorious Notables 

William Ernst 

On July 15 , 2010 a Minneapolis Park Agent

William Gus Ernst, DoB 11/22/1965

was flagged down by a female who stated that a male was exposing himself near 27 St W and Lake of the Isles Parkway. The suspect was located and identified as William Gus Ernst. Officers located a citation in his bag from a similar offense the day before.

 

William Ernst has a long criminal history
with the Minneapolis Police Department.

 

He has been cited or arrested 102 times for offenses such as consumption in a public place, begging, theft, indecent conduct and assault. He is one of eighteen offenders listed on the 5^th Precinct's Uptown and LynLake Offender list. This is a list of chronic offenders compiled with suggestions by officers and business leaders, which fit certain conviction criteria.

 

On September 27, 2010, Ernst was sentenced to 365 days, credit 18 days for gross misdemeanor Indecent Exposure/Conduct. The maximum penalty for gross misdemeanor is 365 days. Ernst is currently in the Workhouse and is not scheduled to be released until June 2011.

David Michael Blevins, DoB 9/15/1983

On January 15, 2011 a woman exited her bus at the usual stop near 46 St W and Bryant Av S and started walking home. A male, David Michael Blevins, got off the bus at the same stop and began to follow her. A short distance later, Blevins demanded her purse. A short struggle ensued and the purse strap broke. During the struggle, Blevins also threatened to shoot the victim but no gun was seen or located.

A witness noticed a male drop a wallet and purse about a block away from the incident location and called the police. The police were notified of this information and located the suspect nearby. The victim positively identified Blevins as the suspect.

Blevins has a long arrest history in Minneapolis including narcotics, assault, damage to property and weapons offenses. He was tried and convicted for the robbery. He received a 26 month sentence for the robbery.

Nanette Marie Haghi, DoB 12/19/1967

Nanette Marie Haghi is a well-known prostitute in the Fifth Precinct, especially in the Stevens Square area. Livability crimes are one of the largest concerns in that area, creating a disturbance for community members, business owners, and visitors simply wanting to enjoy the neighborhood. 
 

Since 1990, Nanette has been arrested in Minneapolis 50 times for prostitution, 31 times for loitering with the intent to prostitute and several other times for narcotics and trespassing.

On January 19, 2011, Nanette was convicted on two gross misdemeanor charges of prostitution. She was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of 365 days and 185 days, bringing it to a total of 550 days. 

In the past, Nanette has been on the CLEAN list (Community and Law Enforcement Action Network) for Stevens Square/Whittier neighborhoods. The list is a compilation of chronic offenders. In order to make it on the list, the person must meet certain criteria which show that he or she is a repeat livability offender affecting the neighborhood and businesses. The specifics of the criteria are available on the list.

Community Impact Statements 

Community Impact Statements are your opportunity for your voice to be heard in the courtroom, even if you're the indirect victim of a crime. You can submit a Community Impact Statement on any case that occurs in your neighborhood in which someone is arrested and is going through the court system. For instance, if a burglary occurred down the block and it affects your feelings of safety at your own home, it's important for the court to be aware of this.

Community Impact Statements are presented to the judge at the time of sentencing of an individual. Sometimes they can affect the sentencing.

Visit the following links to search for cases with Community Impact Statement options near you:

felonies - County Attorney's Office

misdemeanors - City Attorney's Office

Remember: you can also check if individuals are in custody by visiting the Hennepin County Jail Roster. For public court records, visit the Minnesota Public Access to Court Records. If you or someone you know ever needs custody status information on an offender, such as when they are released, consider VINE.

Spanish Language Outreach

CPS GPS 

Inspector Matt Clark

5th Precinct Minneapolis Police Department 

Wards 

Neighborhood Associations