Members of the Minneapolis City Council have complained about the lack of police presence in the city just two months after slashing the police department’s budget by over $1 million.
According to the reports, council members, including Jamal Osman, have expressed their concerns over the status of law enforcement in the city as they questioned Police Chief Medaria Arradondo about the sudden increase in aggravated assaults, robberies, and shootings.
“Residents are asking, ‘Where are the police?’” Osman said as she claimed that calls to the police have gone unanswered.
“That is the only public safety option they have at the moment. MPD. They rely on MPD. And they are saying they are nowhere to be seen.”
Meanwhile, Lisa Bender, the president of the council, accused the Minneapolis Police Department of not enforcing the law on purpose.
“This is not new. But it is very concerning in the current context,” Bender insisted.
Following the council president’s comments, Police Chief Arradondo promised to look into the matter and raise the matter with his colleagues.
“We need to make sure that our communities know that we are going to be there, that we’re going to be responsive,” Arradondo said. “We’ve taken an oath to do that.”
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, violent crimes in the city have surged drastically as compared to the data from the last year.
Reportedly, homicides have gone up by 87 percent whereas cases involving robbery rose by 37 percent. Meanwhile, the police have recorded a 20 percent rise in aggravated assaults, a 25 percent rise in burglaries, and a 40 percent rise in auto theft.
Replaced!