Many times we are asked how do we measure the success of a Citizen Patrol. This is the page where we will list the actions we've taken to protect people, property and livability in Northeast.
Some of the many successes we can attribute to the walking groups or individual NECP participants.
To start, Minneapolis Police Chief, Tim Dolan, publicly recognized the effectiveness of the NECP in helping reduce crime numbers in NE.
Paul Ostrow, the 1st Ward Councilman has also publicly recognized us, as has the previous Second Precinct Commander Inspector Robert Skomra.
Others that have recognized our positive effect on NE include many local businesses, the Northeast Community Developement Corporation (NECDC) and many residents that have lived next to problem houses that are no longer problems.
That said, here are some things that we have done:
· Reported vacant houses with severe gas leaks and called 911 before explosions occurred (most likely caused by scrap metal thieves).
· Spotted a fire on the porch of a home from a candle that was left burning. The group put out the fire and rousted the residents who were unaware as the fire burned.
· Worked with police and inspections to get a vacant house near 26 th & Central emptied of drug dealing squatters and worked to get it boarded up before others could move in. Had another vacant house boarded in the same area before squatters could take over.
· Performed a citizen’s arrest on one local prostitute. Turned in many other prostitutes, and worked with our 2nd Precinct city attorney to arrange treatment for one of them.
· Had a car thief arrested (still watching his case move through the system).
· Saved a person from being beaten (maybe killed) and robbed behind Sully's. This incident made the news. Stopped numerous other fights in the area of Central Avenue.
· Witnessed, and had at least one drug dealer arrested. Plus, NECP groups interrupted hundreds of drug deals in progress just by their presence.
· Gathered information, took pictures, tracked license plate numbers and gave addresses of problem properties to police and city inspections.
· Got the license plate number of a drunk hit-and-run driver near 26 th & Central and called 911. The suspect was located as a result of the information.
· Called 911 to report a drunk driver on Central Ave. who was subsequently arrested.
· Called 911 to report gunplay outside a bar near Central & Lowry, and later found a live round and spent shell casing from the shooting and turned it over to police.
· Filmed and documented after-hours and other illegal, unruly activity at a bar near Central & Lowry, and turned the information over to licensing.
· Located and returned a $100 flashlight dropped by an officer in pursuit of a criminal. · Found stolen credit cards and turned them over to the bank.
· Interrupted the juveniles that knocked over the electrical boxes that cut electricity on Central Avenue and ID’d them to police.
· Escorted little kids back home that were out way past curfew.
· Issued many crime alerts and public safety calls-to-action via our weekly email newsletter, which currently reaches about 1,500 people throughout the 2nd Precinct and beyond.
· Talked to many neighborhood groups and residents about how to be safe.
The NECP has also been instramental in getting rid of dozens of problem properties through discussions with retal owners to fix the problems, or by getting the boarded up, or having them torn down.
Mayor of Minneapolis Proclaims May 11th as NECP Day!
NECP Patrollers in front of the 2nd Precinct Guardian Statue with Inspector Robert Skomra. (Check for the NECP Brick in the base of the statue.)