Minneapolis, MN
Toddrick Barnette reflects on first year as Minneapolis’ community safety commissioner
MINNEAPOLIS — The leader of community safety in Minneapolis has been on the job for just over a year now.
When Toddrick Barnette was sworn in last October, he promised to be transparent and listen to the needs of the community. WCCO’s Reg Chapman met up with him in the heart of north Minneapolis to see how he’s doing on that promise.
Barnette says he feels right at home in spaces where he can interact with the community. He believes his job centers around listening.
“Getting community input and understand what does the community need, instead of us telling community what they want,” said Barnette.
Barnette has 30 years of public safety and legal experience. He was the first person of color to be named chief judge in Hennepin County.
He gave that all up to serve as the city’s second commissioner of community safety.
“Every time you engage community you learn something, and things always change, “Barnette said.
His focus: Making sure there is a foundation for sustainability, reform, transparency and change.
Barnette has five agencies under his command: police, fire, EMS, 911 and neighborhood safety.
“The work that we do is beyond our five departments, it’s the whole enterprise. Community trust, trust with other city departments, trust with the county, trust with the state, trust with the council. Trying to move in some spaces that are very political,” Barnette said.
Barnette says creating collaborations with 311, the health department and social services is crucial in getting resources where they are needed most.
“People want a non-police response where it’s appropriate and there has not been enough focus on that work. I mean, we are doing that work, but I think people will see that road map,” Barnette said.
He knows this work does not come without challenges.
“When we look at homelessness and we look at our encampments, we really have to deal with some of the core issues that are going on in there. We need to go after the folks that are preying on these individuals. We need to go after the drug dealers. We need to go after those people who want to traffick, sex trafficking,” said Barnette.
He also believes dealing with the increase in juvenile crime will be one of the toughest issues his office will face.
“When they are committing more serious crime, we have to really make them accountable,” said Barnette.
Overall, Barnette is encouraged by all that is being done in just his first year as commissioner of community safety.
Barnette is also working with 70 or more organizations that contract with the city that provide neighborhood safety.
He is working to make sure their work is data-driven and they are doing the things they are contracted to do.
The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.
READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges
Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash
Big picture view:
Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.
Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.
During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.
The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.
Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.
Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.
What they’re saying:
During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:
“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”
What’s next:
Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.
Fatal Emerson and 26th crash
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.
Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.
Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.
The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:
“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”
The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.
A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.
The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.
State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.
Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.
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