Latest news with #MetroTransitPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Alternatives to defunding: Who goes to help when police aren't needed?
Rather than cancel contracts with police departments, some local governments have expanded street outreach through nonprofit partners or looked to other preventative efforts that work parallel to, if not hand in hand with law enforcement. Metro Transit: Since 2023, the transit agency has employed civilian Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) agents to check fares, provide customers with information about transit schedules and social service programs, and issue administrative citations, which are non-criminal fines. The 60 TRIP agents — which could grow to 100 agents by the end of the year — supplement the work of the Metro Transit Police Department and its community service officers, who are officers-in-training. In addition, the transit agency's Homeless Action Team works with outreach staff from Mental Health Minnesota to offer services to passengers in crisis. Metro Transit plans to issue a request for proposals from more community-based outreach organizations later this year. St. Paul: Under the direction of Mayor Melvin Carter's office, the city launched the Office of Neighborhood Safety in 2022 to implement the mayor's 'Community First Public Safety' framework, which oversees grants and investments in 'addressing the root causes of crime.' The office is run by director Brooke Blakey, former chief of staff to the Metro Transit police chief, and has funded violence intervention grant outreach and other prevention-based programs. Last year, after ending a police unit dedicated to mental health follow-ups, the city launched a 'Familiar Faces' initiative to target support services, including housing, to the few dozen most frequent users of emergency services. St. Paul Downtown Improvement District: The St. Paul Downtown Alliance and the Downtown Improvement District employ about 35 street ambassadors who walk streets and skyways and are available to escort downtown workers to their cars at night. Some are assigned cleaning duties for litter and graffiti. About eight to 16 street ambassadors are deployed at a time, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. The improvement district also coordinates a Safety Communications Center, which supports communications between the street team, private building security teams and the city police department. Ramsey County: Through a pilot program started in early 2024, four St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health responders can be dispatched by the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center to calls involving substance abuse that aren't overdoses or medical emergencies. Participating cities include Little Canada, New Brighton, Falcon Heights, Maplewood, Mounds View, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township. St. Paul Public Schools: In June 2020, the school board voted to stop paying the police department to staff the public high schools with school resource officers. In their place are 40 unarmed school support liaisons trained and paid by the school district alone, who try to build relationships with students and head off problems before they escalate. Joe Soucheray: George Floyd Square is an embarrassment to the man it's supposed to honor Ex-Minneapolis police chief recalls 'absolutely gut-wrenching' moment of seeing George Floyd video George Floyd: Minneapolis, St. Paul events mark his death, community response Justice Department moves to cancel Minneapolis police reform settlement Minnesota Freedom Fund to stop bailing out jailed defendants
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man falls onto Metro tracks while trying to evade fare in DC
WASHINGTON () — The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) said a person tried to evade fare at a Metro station and fell onto the tracks. On Friday at around 8:30 p.m., officers responded to the Benning Road Metro Station. There, a man fell from the platform level to the track bed while attempting fare evasion. Youth curfew goes into place at DC's Wharf over Memorial Day Weekend The man was able to get himself out. DC Fire and EMS crews also responded and evaluated the man for any injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Metro Transit police investigating shooting at Hyattsville Crossing
HYATTSVILLE, Md. () — Metro Transit police are investigating a shooting that broke out on Wednesday afternoon. The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) said officers were at the Hyattsville Crossing Metro Station investigating a shooting that happened inside. Capital Wheel at National Harbor to glow with dazzling new lights So far, no injuries have been reported, according to police. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
State rules former Metro Transit captain was discriminated against, lawsuit now pending
The Brief Former Metro Transit Captain and Chief of Staff, Brooke Blakey, along with former Sgt. Sidney Jones, are suing the Metropolitan Council. The lawsuit alleges that former Metro Transit Police Chief Eddie Frizell abused his power and discriminated against Blakey and Jones. The lawsuit comes after Blakey and Jones were accused of receiving laptops for their children that were meant for underprivileged children, both ultimately being demoted to officers after an internal investigation. (FOX 9) - A lawsuit has been filed against the Metropolitan Council, which accuses the council of, through the actions of former Metro Transit Chief of Police Eddie Frizell, discriminating against two former Metro Transit police officers due to their race. What they're saying The lawsuit filed against the Metropolitan Council, which oversees the Metro Transit Police Department, alleges that former Chief of Police Eddie Frizell targeted two former Metro Transit police officers for discipline to "appease the skepticism of some white employees" who doubted the two officers' promotions. The officers who are suing the Metropolitan Council are former Metro Transit Captain and Chief of Staff, Brooke Blakey, and former Sgt. Sidney Jones. This lawsuit comes after the Minnesota Department of Human Rights recently determined Metro Transit discriminated against Blakey. According to the lawsuit, Frizell "abused his power" against Blakey and Jones by demoting them for his "own personal ambitions" as he wanted to be promoted to U.S. Marshal. The lawsuit also alleges that Frizell "targeted" Blakey and Jones for discipline to "demonstrate to some white employees that he could be tough on Black officers." The lawsuit is demanding a jury trial and asking for monetary damages exceeding $50,000. Also, if the former officers win the lawsuit, they are asking the Metropolitan Council to stop it's "discriminatory practice", remove the discriminatory discipline from their records and reinstate the former officers to their positions, with back pay. The lawsuit also asks for a public apology. The backstory The lawsuit is based around Blakey and Jones being demoted from their positions at the Metro Transit Police Department following an Internal Affairs investigation into allegations they received laptops for their children who completed a community service project. Metro Transit bans accepting gifts. After the investigation, Blakey was demoted from Captain and Chief of Staff, to Sergeant, then down to officer. Jones was demoted from Sergeant to officer. Blakey is now the Director of Neighborhood Safety for the City of St. Paul. READ MORE: Metro Transit Police: A top cop, a laptop, and accusations of racism, sexism What's next The Metropolitan Council has 21 days to respond to the lawsuit. Read the full lawsuit below: Click to open this PDF in a new window. The Source The lawsuit was provided to FOX by A.L. Brown from Capitol City Law Group, who is representing Jones and Blakey. Past FOX 9 reporting also contributed to this report.
