Here is a link to the annual summary of key criminal prosecution results for the City Attorney’s Office.

Document Link:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/attorney/docs/2009AnnualReport.pdf

It has been my experience that news of a sex crime (or sex offender) makes neighbors seethe more than any other act—even murder. Since there is such energy attached to these acts and these people, I refer readers to this post on Level III Sex Offenders from the excellent Minneapolis Crime Watch blog:

[T]here is now a Level III sex offender suing neighborhood activists for publicizing the information that is required to be disseminated every time a Level III sex offender moves into a neighborhood.

From the StarTribune:

If the council approves the plans later this month, the department will lose 26 civilian positions, 21 crime prevention specialists, the mounted patrol and the police activity league. The chaplain corps, which works at tense crime scenes and notifies families when a loved one has died, is also on the chopping block. Even the employee assistance program will be a bare bones operation.

The cuts Dolan described Monday at a council committee hearing are on top of a $3 million deficit

From the StarTribune:

An undercover Minneapolis police officer engaged in outrageous conduct when he fondled a masseuse who was the target of a prostitution investigation, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday in a decision that could open the door for criminal defendants in other sting investigations.

The Minneapolis Police Department is now on facebook. Take a look and become a friend of the cops.

From the StarTribune:

When the lab officially receives its accreditation today from the American Society of Crime Lab Directors, it can claim to meet more than 400 strict standards that will be monitored in-house by a full-time quality assurance coordinator.
…
"When people from the crime lab are witnesses during trials, we point out the accreditation and how hard it is to get," said Hennepin County Deputy Attorney Pat Diamond. "It adds to their credibility, and it should."
…
The lab's 30 scientists, technicians and analysts are a mix of officers and civilians, many of whom have four-year forensic science degrees.

The 6,000-square-foot lab, which has a $1.6 million dollar budget, is pretty nondescript for a place where things happen that can mean the difference between acquittal and conviction, imprisonment or freedom.

It has lots of ordinary looking desks with computers, some video equipment, a photo lab and chemical testing areas.

From the MPD:

September 17, 2009 (MINNEAPOLIS)
Message from Chief Dolan:

There is some misinformation circulating regarding the Department's disciplinary process and the credibility of our Internal Affairs. I would like to address those allegations.

Trisha Farkarlun, who accused two MPD Officers of raping her, has been found guilty of Falsely Reporting Police Misconduct:

On July 28, 2007, Farkarlun accused officers Paul Gillies and MiQuel Barnes of raping her for 8 to 10 minutes in an alley near Vincent Avenue N. and Golden Valley Road. Police had been called to a home on Vincent, where a woman said she wanted Farkarlun removed from the residence, according to the criminal complaint.

An MPD spokesman offers more detail and commentary:

Southside bicycle advocates have formed a volunteer patrol to fight crime on the Midtown Greenway trail:

That prompted him to volunteer when the Midtown Greenway Coalition, the advocacy group for the bike-walk paths paralleling Lake Street, put out a call for volunteers for night patrols. He describes his motivation as "a sense of responsibility to protect a very valuable community asset."

Fox-9 TV reports on a successful block club in the East Phillips neighborhood:

NECP patrolers are recognizable by their black T-shirts. The shirt lets people know we’re something more than just folks out for a walk. It’s a conversation starter, but nothing like this:

The City Council has adopted Mayor Rybak’s revised 2009 budget. The budget required revision due to decreases in expected City revenue.

Minneapolis is making it crystal clear that prostitution will not be tolerated in the city. The City is now using electronic billboards and new prosecution standards to get tougher on those who solicit prostitution in Minneapolis.

With the short-term economic picture becoming increasingly hopeless, we might expect to suffer more of this:

Minneapolis Police are investigating whether a rash of overnight armed robberies are related.