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Edina to add 6 more officers, police substation inside Southdale
A man was stabbed to death at a bus stop the day before Thanksgiving and another man was shot to death outside a strip mall on Saturday.
EDINA, Minn. — The Edina Police chief is trying to hire six more officers as the city not only grows, but is in the midst of a recent rash of violence as well.
There have been three shootings in or near Southdale Center this year, including one last weekend where a 23-year-old man died. And on the day before Thanksgiving, another man was reportedly stabbed randomly at a nearby bus stop.
“Population growth means additional services,” said Chief Todd Milburn. “It’s not just crime, it’s part of a larger picture of things that are going on that you have to scale up your resources for.”
Chief Milburn says there are currently 58 sworn officers, but he wants to add six more in the next two years. But like a lot of departments across the country, recruiting officers is challenging.
The city has implemented a cadet program to recruit recent high school graduates and pay for their curriculum with the intent to hire them. So far, it has resulted in two new officers.
Chief Milburn also says the department came to an agreement with the mall to build a new police substation inside it and staff it with two officers. That will begin at the start of the new year.
The mall is also adding a grocery store and new restaurants, along side several new apartment complexes in that area.
“That’s a win for customers and for ownership, but also a win for a police department so that we can build those relationships and make sure we have the resources in the right spots,” said Chief Milburn.
He notes that Edina is a safe city and that crime trends come and go — something he can attest to with 30 years of law enforcement experience.
“It’s also unfortunately part of a larger pattern we’re seeing across the metro area,” said Chief Milburn. “We get resources in play right away.”
He admits the city and the department are “fortunate,” but that Edina is a smaller agency and has to rely on and work closely with nearby law enforcement partners as many agencies continue to confront challenges.
“It’s just trying to get the right people to the table to figure out the right solution and that’s the heavy lift ahead,” said Chief Milburn.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
