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Golden Valley PD initiates contract to fill police vacancies
With recruiting efforts underway and partnerships in place, experts say changes from within are what will attract and retain.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — When deciding where to live, public safety is a big deal, and for lifelong Golden Valley resident Randy Anderson, a member of the city’s PEACE Commission, it’s part of the reason he’s stayed.
“We have a safe city, our force is down, our crime is not going up, I see the data, I look at it, I watch it,” said Anderson.
Safety, which Golden Valley’s newest and first Black Police Chief Virgil Green says is attributed to a more than $60,000 mutual aide agreement with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’re not compromising the services that we’re providing, the Sheriff’s Department are great partners in making sure that we follow through with that,” said Chief Green.
With a budget for 31 sworn-in officers, the department currently has less than 10.
“We’re down to 8 sworn officers and we got 8 non-sworn officers which are community resource officers,” explained Chief Green.
In August, the city initiated a contract with the private security company BelCom, to allow unlicensed former police officers to assist with non-violent investigations at a cost of $85 an hour.
“They’re assisting with some of our investigative investigations related to say a property crime, you know say if somebody had their credit card theft, they can come in and do all that investigative work and assist our investigation department with filing those criminal charges,” explained Chief Green.
It’s what some policing experts refer to as a unique decision.
“This is the first time I’ve ever heard of an agency hiring a private security firm to help with investigations,” said Dr. David Thomas, a forensics studies professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Dr. Thomas, says it’s an option that can present challenges.
“Every time law enforcement acquiesces some of its stuff and gives it away for private industry to create the standard, then sometimes I believe a lot is lost because the agencies aren’t controlling it,” said Dr. Thomas.
With recruiting efforts underway and partnerships in place, experts say changes from within are what will attract and retain.
“What is the agency’s reputation, what is their reputation in our community the minority community, what type of programs do they have in place, and how well do they sell themselves?” explained Dr. Thomas.
When asked why so many officers have left the department, Chief Green says it has a lot to do with conversations centered around police reform.
“You know how do we rethink the way we are policing and if that involves making sure that we are a much more inclusive department, making sure that we are diversifying our police department, making sure we’re following procedural justice,” said Chief Green.
He went on to say, “if you’re in this profession to do that, then there shouldn’t really be that much of a pushback.”
The Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) provides union services for the Golden Valley Police Department. LELS Executive Director Jim Mortenson released the following statement saying in part:
“The radical agenda of Golden Valley’s city leaders and their lack of support to the staff within the police department is having an effect on its residents and visitors to the community. It has caused unprecedented and dangerously low staffing levels as well as morale issues, as police officers are leaving in droves for employment with surrounding agencies.”
“None of us expected to lose as many police officers as we did, however, if that’s what it takes to get the city in a direction where everyone feels included, so be it,” said Anderson.
Golden Valley Police say they’re running a recruiting campaign on social media and several job boards.
“We’re doing everything we can within our powers to make sure that we do a good job of recruiting and making sure we hire the right people and also to make sure the business community and the citizens know that we’re here to make sure that their safety is top priority,” said Chief Green.
The department is also finalizing a contract to keep Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies on a 12-hour rotating shift until staffing needs are met.
Chief Green says a vote by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on that contract is expected on March 7th.
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Sylvester Hudson walks with a limp and was last seen early on Saturday morning at Millers Landing Senior Living in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing elderly man last seen early on Saturday morning.
According to officials, 74-year-old Sylvester Hudson is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs around 130 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes.
Hudson is possibly wearing a black hat, jeans and socks. he walks with a limp and police said he would likely appear confused or disoriented.
The missing man was last seen around 3 a.m. at Millers Landing Senior Living in Minneapolis.
Anyone who sees Hudson is asked to contact officials in one of the following ways:
The annual celebration will feature wagon rides to cider making and sheepdog herding.
MINNETRISTA, Minn — Celebrate the changing of the seasons at Gale Woods Farm.
Located on Whaletail Lake in Minnetrista, Gale Woods Farm offers visitors an educational opportunity to gain an understanding of agriculture, food production, and land stewardship.
Fall Fest will be celebrated Sunday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The annual celebration will feature wagon rides to cider making and sheepdog herding.
Admission is free as is parking which is available throughout the park.
The mocktail is inspired by pumpkin pie spice and Minnesota Grown apple cider.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — In anticipation of the influx of holiday parties and alcohol consumption that happens in November and December, consumers are increasingly participating in “Sober October.”
A lot of ready-to-drink, new, seasonal, clean non-alcoholic options are in store now, including:
- Nozeco (pronounced like prosecco!) is a sparkling drink made from dealcoholized wine, maintaining the true flavor and experience of wine, without any next-day consequences.
- Sayso looks like a tea sachet that you simply “steep” in cold water (or alcohol).
- Mingle RTD cans are naturally infused, low-calorie botanical beverages in your favorite cocktail flavors, with no artificial sweeteners
- Recess Zero Proof cans are low-sugar, low-calorie mocktails infused with 10mg of naturally occurring caffeine from guayusa and balancing adaptogens like L-theanine and lemon balm.
We’re celebrating Sober October with a mocktail inspired by pumpkin pie spice and one of fall’s best bevvies – fresh pressed, Minnesota Grown apple cider! This is a great drink for sipping at a tailgate, a bonfire or a Halloween porch party.
SPARKLY CIDER-PUMPKIN MOCKTAILS
- 2 tbsp. superfine sugar
- 1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
- pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 lemon wedge
- ½ cup Kowalski’s Minnesota Grown Apple Cider
- ¼ cup pumpkin purée
- 1 tbsp. Kowalski’s Cinnamon or Bourbon Maple Syrup
- 2 tsp. Kowalski’s Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp. Kowalski’s Organic Madagascar Vanilla Extract or Paste
- ice
- non-alcoholic sparkling wine (such as Nozeco) cold, to taste
- fresh Minnesota Grown apple slices, for garnish
- Pour sugar onto a flat-rimmed dish; whisk in 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and cayenne.
- Moisten the rims of 2 martini or coupe glasses with the lemon wedge; dip the rims in spiced sugar. Set glasses aside.
- Add cider, pumpkin purée, syrup, lemon juice, vanilla and remaining pumpkin pie spice to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice to fill the shaker ⅔ full; shake until the mixture is very cold (about 30 sec.).
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer evenly into the prepared glasses.
- Top each glass evenly with wine; stir gently.
- Garnish mocktails with fresh apple slices.
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