I am pleased to announce that the Fifth Precinct has had a very successful year in 2014 in combating crime. Overall, we are down in every category of crime with the exception of aggravated domestic assault.

This is a concern for us, but unfortunately domestic assault is a crime that is difficult to effectively prevent as a police department. There is a strong domestic assault advocacy group that works with the MPD and we have a great domestic assault unit for investigations. We will continue to utilize domestic assault protocol that is aimed at protecting the victims and gathering evidence to charge the suspects. If anyone is in need of our services or would like to speak to someone, please do not hesitate to reach out for our assistance.

For help with domestic abuse, visit the Domestic Abuse Project's website at http://www.domesticabuseproject.com/ or call (612) 874-7063.

In regards to crime stastistics, keep in mind with increases that it can be difficult to know whether it is because there are more crimes occurring, or if people are feeling more comfortable in reporting the crimes.

We greatly appreciate our community's support as we move forward. It's so important that we continue to build strong working relationships. Your support by keeping an eye on your blocks and calling on suspicious activity is invaluable. Community is the first and best step for crime prevention, and with your help we can make 2015 a successful year.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.

-Inspector Todd Loining

Have you ever wondered who you should call if you are worried about someone sleeping outside? When the temperature plummets and winter arrives, who can people experiencing homelessness turn to when they need help finding a safe place to stay and a way to come in from the cold to stable housing?

The Street Outreach team helps people experiencing homelessness find the housing and services they need to end their homelessness and improve their lives. St. Stephen's Street Outreach is also an important resource for concerned community members, law enforcement, the Downtown Council, and many other partners who support our work.

We serve people experiencing homelessness who sleep outside, in their cars, abandoned buildings, and in other places not meant for human habitation. We provide drop-in hours for clients Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 11am. Teams of two canvass the streets from 9am to 9pm Tuesday through Friday and Monday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm. The team connects people to available rental housing, supportive housing, community resources, emergency shelters, drop-in centers, food shelves, and meal sites. For those that who cannot find suitable shelter we provide emergency gear, build their trust by checking on their welfare, and help them to find safe housing and the services needed to stay in their housing.

Recently, street outreach has been spending time getting to know the 5th Precinct day beat officers, Crime Prevention Specialist Chelsea Adams, and new community attorney Nicole Appelbaum. This collaboration has allowed for discussion and problem solving around homelessness and panhandling in the 5th Precinct.

What can you do if you are worried about someone who may be homeless or is panhandling and they approach you?

• Acknowledge the person (smile, nod, say hello, or wish them the best).
• If you are comfortable speaking to them, give them information about the Street Outreach team.
• Go to this link: Outreach brochure to print off our trifold and keep it in your car.
• Call the Outreach Team and leave a message anytime at 612-879-7624 (Put this number in your cell phone).
• Hours are listed below:
• Tuesday-Friday: 9am-9pm
• Monday & Saturday: 9am-5pm
• Assess safety of the situation:
• Is this person an immediate danger to themselves or others? If so, call 911 immediately.  

***** If you would like to do more to end homelessness for others you can volunteer at St. Stephen's http://ststephensmpls.org/join, or any local organization of your choice.

St Stephen's Human Services:

                        Day Watch Lieutenant: Todd Gross

Hello, I am Lt. Todd Gross. I have been a Minneapolis Police Officer for over 26 years. I was assigned to the 5th Precinct in November of 2013. I currently supervise the Day watch shift, Day beat shift, Day Community Response Team, Night Community Response team and the Crime Prevention Specialists.

I had worked in the Leadership and Organizational Development (LOD) Division for three years prior to moving to the 5th Precinct. In LOD I restarted the police academy when the department began hiring new officers and Community Service Officers in 2011. I also supervised all the training for both current and newly hired officers.

Prior to being promoted to Lieutenant in 2010 I worked in the 2nd and 3rd Precincts, Investigations, and Internal Affairs over the years.

For the 5th Precinct I will continually focus my teams on the core values of the MPD: Public Safety, Public Trust, and Employee Engagement and Morale.

MPD officers will work to ensure the public safety and will keep and gain the public trust by engaging the community and its businesses and residents during the officers' daily work.

This is a great Precinct with a long tradition of Community Engagement and Public service!

If you have any needs or concerns please feel free to contact me at the 5th precinct.

Lieutenant Todd Gross

todd.gross@minneapolismn.gov

(612) 673-5136

Middle Watch Lieutenant: Melissa Chiodo

I graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul in 1995 with a double major in English and Communications. I started with the MPD in 1996 as a Police Cadet and after training I was assigned as an officer in the First Precinct. I worked on the CRT team, as the Loring Beat Officer, a Patrol Officer and the Safe Zone Officer during my time in that Precinct. I also did a Career Enrichment in the Crime Lab and spent almost three years in the Training Unit doing Recruitment and backgrounds.

In 2008, I was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned as an Investigator in the Internal Affairs Unit where I investigated complaints of Officer misconduct and responded to Critical Incidents. I then transferred to the Police Licensing Unit where I handled Liquor License Applications and Youth Alcohol Compliance Checks. My last stop as a Sergeant was working Third Precinct Dogwatch.

In July 2013 I was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to the Fifth Precinct Middle Watch where I supervise 3 Sergeants, 4 Beat Officers and 18 Patrol Officers. I also serve on the OPCR panels (Office of Police Conduct Review).

When not working, I spend my time with my husband Ric who is also in Public Service and is a St. Paul Fire Captain. We go camping with our two children, 10 and 5 years old, and our family Boxer, Champ.

You can reach me at:

Lieutenant Melissa Chiodo

melissa.chiodo@minneapolismn.gov

(612) 673-2336

I was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and worked 3rd precinct property crimes, 3rd precinct community response team, special operation division /SWAT, training unit and returned to the 3rd precinct community response team. I was promoted to lieutenant in 2014, and currently supervise the nightwatch shift in the 5th precinct. I am also currently a senior use of force instructor for the department and have instructed for 16 years for the department.

My goals for the precinct are:

Violent crime reduction and suppression: 

Officers will participate in proactive details in response to violent crime patterns. Supervisors will organize at least 6 details per month based on identified crime patterns and trends and report back with results on proactive enforcement, suspect identification and crime deterrence.

Property crime reductions and suppression:

Officers will participate in proactive details in response to property crime patterns. Supervisors will organize at least 6 details per month based on identified crime patterns and trends and report back with results on proactive enforcement, suspect identification and crime deterrence.

Juvenile diverson through curfew enforcement:

Officers will aggressively patrol for curfew violators. Patterns on juvenile-related crime will be passed on to the shift for effective enforcement. Officer will seek to remove juveniles from the street to reduce juvenile crime and protect their safety. Stops for curfew violators and arrests will be totaled for each officer. Curfew arrests will total at least 10 each month.

Lieutenant Brian Anderson 

brian.anderson@minneapolismn.gov

(612) 673-5323

Ready for a New Year's Resolution? Make 2015 be the year of community.

We need block leaders! Block leaders are emailed alerts of a number of local crimes, in about 1 - 2 block radius around their location. We ask that they forward it to their neighbors. You can do this however you want--forward the email, make a Facebook page for your block, do something else entirely; whatever works for your block works for us.

Anyone can be a block leader-businesses, tenants, homeowners, even building managers on blocks with huge apartment complexes. And if you aren't ready to commit to a block but live in an apartment or condo building, you could be the contact for your building!

It's very easy to be a block leader, and that little bit of commitment goes a long way. The Campbell Collaboration showed a 16 - 26% reduction in crime on blocks that were organized (although there are other variables that could have affected that number). Regardless, block leaders have told us that having an organized block has made them feel safer, and more importantly brought them closer to their neighbors.

If you're interested in more information on being a block leader, contact your CPS for a one-on-one meeting at a coffee shop, OR attend one of the upcoming Block Leader Trainings:

Monday January 26, 2015: 6-7 pm

Thursday January 29, 2015: noon-1 pm

These meetings are free and will be in the community room at the Fifth Precinct, 3101 Nicollet Av. Free visitor parking lot at the southwest corner or 1st Av and 31st St E. RSVP if you are able.

Feel free to come late and/or leave early as your schedule allows.

North of 36th St NOT INCLUDING Lyndale neighborhood: Chelsea Adams, Chelsea.adams@minneapolismn.gov (preferred) or 612.673.2819

South of 36th St AND INCLUDING Lyndale neighborhood: Jennifer Waisanen, Jennifer.Waisanen@minneapolismn.gov or 612.673.5407

If you don't know if your block is organized, ask your CPS.