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Crime, Law and Justice
Cari Spencer

Minneapolis collaborates with state, federal agencies to target violent crime

A man speaks at a podium
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara answers questions during a press conference after the Minneapolis City Council voted 8 to 4 to approve the new police contract on July 18.
Ben Hovland | MPR News

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Law enforcement organizations have launched a coordinated crackdown targeting crime hotspots in Minneapolis for the third summer in a row. 

The weeklong effort focuses on people police say are responsible for disproportionate amounts of violence in the city and prioritizes the seizure of illegal guns. There were three shootings in Minneapolis over the weekend that caused one death.

“We do not tolerate gunfire in our communities,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey about the initiative, dubbed Operation Safe Summer. “Everyone should feel comfortable sending their kid to the playground or jumping on a trampoline without the risk of getting hit by gunfire.”

The effort is a collaboration between Minneapolis police, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol, as well as federal law enforcement partners. 

Last year, the week ended with 38 firearm seizures and 100 arrests, according to the city. The operation netted similar numbers in 2022.

Minneapolis Police Department Chief Brian O’Hara said the weeklong collaboration will focus on violent crime hotspots, including intersections in south and north Minneapolis. In the first two days of the collaboration, there were 13 firearm seizures and 44 arrests, according to the city.

“These are very targeted investigations, very focused and we’re thankful that we’re able to do this this week because we know our community is desperately in need to see visible police response to some of the violence that’s been going on,” O’Hara said. 

Collaborative operations are not isolated to this week, but O’Hara said the increased intelligence shared between agencies helps with investigations year-round. He added there’s “a very small percentage of blocks that are problematic,” and law enforcement works with their partners to target those areas. 

“We recognize that some of the spots that historically there’s concentrations, long-term solutions involve more than just arresting people,” O’Hara said. “That’s beyond the scope of what we do.”

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said the agency’s new violent crime reduction unit, funded by the state Legislature last session, is assisting.

“Their focus is on violent crime, gun trafficking, recovery of firearms and individuals that are wanted in connection with violent crimes across the state of Minnesota,” Evans said, adding that in the past six months, the new unit has confiscated 154 firearms. 

The annual operation was initially planned earlier in the summer but was delayed by the fatal shooting of Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell at the end of May.