Toddrick Barnette reflects on his first year as community safety commissioner in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS— The community safety leader in Minneapolis has been in the works for just over a year now.

When Toddrick Barnette was sworn in last October he pledged to be transparent and listen to the needs of the community. WCCO’s Reg Chapman met him in the heart of North Minneapolis to see how he’s making good on that promise.

Barnette says he feels right at home in spaces where he can interact with the community. He believes it is his job to listen.

“Getting input from the community and understanding what the community needs, rather than us telling the community what they want,” Barnette says.

Barnette has 30 years of public safety and legal experience. He was the first person of color to be appointed chief judge in Hennepin County.

He gave all that up to serve as the city’s second community safety commissioner.

“Any time you engage the community, you learn something, and things are always changing,” Barnette said.

His focus: Ensuring there is a basis for sustainability, reform, transparency and change.

Barnette has five agencies under his command: police, fire, EMS, 911 and neighborhood safety.

“The work we do goes beyond our five departments, it’s the entire enterprise. Trust with the community, trust with other city departments, trust with the county, trust with the state, trust with the municipality. Trying to move in some spaces which is very political,” Barnette said.

Barnette says creating partnerships with 311, the health department and social services is critical to getting resources where they are needed most.

“People want a response from outside of law enforcement where it’s appropriate, and there’s not enough focus on that work. I mean, we’re doing that work, but I think people will see that road map,” Barnette said.

He knows this work does not come without challenges.

“When we look at homelessness, we look at our encampmentswe really need to address some of the core issues there. We need to go after the people who prey on these individuals. We have to go after the drug dealers. We need to go after the people who want to engage in human trafficking, sex trafficking,” Barnette said.

He also believes that dealing with the increase in juvenile crime will be one of the most difficult issues his office will have to deal with.

“If they’re committing more serious crimes, we really need to hold them accountable,” Barnette said.

Overall, Barnette is encouraged by all that is being done in his first year as Community Safety Commissioner.

Barnette also works with seventy or more organizations that contract with the city and provide neighborhood safety.

He ensures that their work is data-driven and that they do the things they are contracted to do.