PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
To Subscribe Scan Here
Inside this Edition...
Mayor, council clash over Mpls budget on page 3.
Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence.
December 19 - 25, 2024
Vol. 91
No. 21
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Reimagining policing:
how Brooklyn Park is paving the way By Margaret Sullivan Contributing Writer n the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, elected officials across the state vowed to make changes to policies and practices that govern interactions with police. From a statewide ban on chokeholds to the removal of student resource officers (SROs) in St. Paul Public Schools, policies were implemented to reduce harm and instill trust within the Black community. One Minneapolis suburb has found success by focusing on initiatives that cultivate relationships, trust, wellness and accessibility in unprecedented ways. The Brooklyn Park Police Department (BPPD) launched
several initiatives aimed at improving interactions between police and community members. In 2023, BPPD launched an Alternative Response Team (ART), the first of its kind. This team, comprised of social workers and health care professionals, responds to 911 calls related to mental health crises. After the initial call, ART follows up to continue providing support and ongoing resources, setting this program apart from similar initiatives launched elsewhere throughout the state. “They don’t just handle the situation at the moment,” says Elliot Faust, Brooklyn Park police precinct inspector and public information officer. Faust says this has resulted in a decrease in mental health-related calls as social workers and para-
medics show up on the scene, take more time to assess what’s needed, and continue providing care after the fact. The wellness and mental health needs of Brooklyn Park officers are also of the utmost priority. Police officers are prohibited from working over-long hours that lead to burnout and are provided with proper mental health support. “If they’re not well, they’re not going to treat the citizens well,” Faust says. The cultivation of relationships has proven beneficial. After the murder of Daunte Wright in neighboring Brooklyn Center, Faust states that there was a need to build police legitimacy and double down on community engagement. Instead of officers solely showing up when The Brooklyn Park Police Department is seeing an increase in the number of BIPOC and women ■ See POLICING on page 5 officers entering its ranks. Courtesy photo
Gun victim, nonprofit leader Justice Page school principal applauds Ellison lawsuit honored as NFL ‘Changemaker’ resources and much-needed makers program. “I came in here thinking it upgrades to the school’s aging was for somebody else,” Tenner auditorium. The other half will hannon Tenner, the said, her voice filled with emo- go to Onika’s Angels, a nonprincipal of Justice Page tion. “You never think you’ll re- profit organization that distribMiddle School in South ceive this much recognition for utes food and other essentials Minneapolis, has dedicated the work we do with students. at the school. her life to education and com- I’m humbled, I’m honored, and “This year there was an admunity empowerment. On a I love, love, love working with ditional crunch on the district, typical school day on Dec. 13, students — that’s my passion.” so every bit helps,” Tenner said. The $10,000 grant reflects “I don’t have as much money as she walked into what she thought was a routine gather- Tenner’s unwavering commit- I normally would have to assist ing — only to be surprised with ment to her students and the with things like that.” In 2018, all NFL teams adopta $10,000 grant from the Min- broader South Minneapolis nesota Vikings as part of the community. Half of the funds ed a matching grant initiative to NFL’s Inspire Change Change- will directly support classroom ■ See VIKINGS on page 5
By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor un violence victim and gun violence prevention leader Tommy McBrayer applauds the decision by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to sue gun manufacturer Glock Inc. Ellison filed against Glock and its Austrian parent company on Dec. 12 for manufacturing, marketing, and selling semiautomatic handguns that can easily be converted into illegal machine guns with a cheap device known as a “Glock switch.” “As an organization that’s trying to prevent gun violence, here’s a system that wants to keep the violence going,” said McBrayer, founder and CEO of Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops. “Gun manufacturers don’t care about the violence from these switches. We need to go after them because once these things hit the streets it’s too late. I support Keith Ellison, appreciate him for what he’s doing.” Ellison said he is suing Glock for knowingly manufacturing and selling handguns that can
By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer
Tommy McBrayer easily be converted into machine guns. “Glock’s actions, and their inaction, violate Minnesota law and put kids, communities, and law enforcement in danger. This has to stop,” he said. “It is critically important that we continue to hold individuals who commit crimes criminally accountable for their
actions. It’s also important that when corporations knowingly make, market, and sell products that put people’s lives in danger, we hold them civilly accountable. We can and must reduce gun violence and keep Minnesotans safe by pursuing justice using the tools of both Shannon Tenner, along with Alan Page (seated), Brett Taber, and the Vikings mascot at Justice Photo courtesy Onika Nicole Craven ■ See ELLISON on page 5 Page Middle School
Robbinsdale School Board squabbles over personal attacks
Robbinsdale School Board Member Sharon Brooks
“She repeated what someone else said: ‘I identify as Black.’ Well, guess what? I identify as Black as well.” Vento was absent from the Dec. 16 meeting. Brooks criticized the report as board member Caroline Long. a double standard leveled at her. By Clint Combs “I am going to request that Long had described how her Contributing Writer mother once called her an “N- the chair ruled out of order, “Liz obbinsdale School Board word baby.” Brooks contested J. Vieira, attorney counsel at voted to censure for a Long’s claim to be Black, re- the board meeting, interjected. second time Board peatedly saying at an Aug. 26 “The investigative report has Member Sharon Brooks on meeting, “I identify as Black.” been concluded. The concluDec. 16 following an investiga- Supporters of Brooks argue that sions have been accepted.” Brooks continued alleging tive report stating she violated her statement merely repeated that Board Chair ReNae Bowboard rules against harass- something Long had said. Cynthia Wilson of the Min- man, Vice Chair Kim Holmes, ment. Brooks also was removed from all board commit- neapolis NAACP criticized and Director Long were viotees and put on notice that the board’s actions, saying, lating the board’s code of further violations could lead to “You’re going to vote to take conduct. The investigative re$600 [board stipend] from port has not been released to her removal from the board. Brooks had 10 committee an elected official to silence the public. “Read the report posts, including MN School her when in fact you had a on them; it’s pretty heinous,” Board Director of Color and board member who dropped Brooks said. “Personal attacks are out of Student Advisory to the Board all kinds of F-bombs and was very disrespectful,” referring order,” Chair Bowman said. of Education. “No attacks. Facts,” Brooks According to school board to board member John Vento, documents, the report and in- a white person who had used responded. Vieira said Brooks’ use of the vestigation stemmed from an the F-word toward Brooks at a argument between Brooks and public policy meeting last July. word “heinous” was out of order.
Chair Bowman is responsible for adding items to the school board meeting agenda. Bowman was only available for comment after MSR’s publication deadline. Board member Helen Bassett said the report should have been issued sooner but also argued that the board should delay its censure vote until a new director is in charge of the body. Vice Chair Holmes disagreed, stating, “This is a very detailed resolution. I encourage everybody to read it, especially those that came for listening hour.” She explained that the resolution is necessary for establishing clear expectations for board members’ conduct, adding, “We are a self-policing body. It’s not a court of law. Nobody is claiming it is. These are the tools that have been provided to us.” Holmes stressed that delaying the resolution would ■ See BROOKS on page 5