Kare11
Minneapolis police travel to Huntsville HBCU to recruit officers
MINNEAPOLIS — Police departments across the country are dealing with staffing shortages, and Minneapolis has especially struggled to recruit and retain officers in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
This week, the department turned to the south to try to improve staffing levels.
Officer Krystal Scott is one of three MPD officers who traveled to Huntsville to work a career fair Thursday at Alabama A&M, an historically Black university. She says they chose the school because a former summer intern currently attends it.
“She was just such a positive person,” Scott said, “and we’re like, ‘There has to be more of her down here.'”
Public information officer Sgt. Garrett Parten says the department is budgeted to have 731 sworn officers but was only at 585 as of mid-September. That’s about 150 less than they’re budgeted for and 300 shy of where they want to be.
Scott says at least nine people recently joined the MPD as cadets, and that another academy will start within the next month.
“It’s been challenging not only for the officers who are day in and day out – they’re out there going call to call – but also for families,” Scott said. “You have to think about their families and them not seeing their families.”
So they’re hitting the road, sharing the selling points of working in Minneapolis while also acknowledging its past.
“[The 2020 unrest] comes up a lot obviously but we do a really good job of letting them understand that we’ve come a long way from that. It did just happen a couple of years ago, however we’ve done a lot of adaptations within our department … in order to increase the faith they have in our officers.”
“And specifically for us African American officers to go down to a historical Black college shows a lot of support,” she said.
Scott, who is from Kentucky but has worked in Minneapolis the last seven years, says the recruitment team was also honest with students about the cold weather up here.
They also told students they don’t need a criminal justice degree to work for MPD and that all training would be provided.
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
Prosecutors charged 45-year-old Trevor Joseph Wunderlich with second-degree murder in the death of his 68-year-old mother, Charlene Gail Wunderlich.
HUGO, Minn. — The man who was the “person of interest” in the north metro search Monday night was charged Thursday morning in the murder of his mother.
Prosecutors charged 45-year-old Trevor Joseph Wunderlich with second-degree murder in the death of his 68-year-old mother, Charlene Gail Wunderlich.
According to court documents, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from a home in the 15000 block of Ingersoll Ave. at approximately 5:55 p.m. on Sept. 16.
Dispatchers said they “could hear noises on the line consistent with an ongoing assault or struggle.”
When deputies arrived they found Charlene Gail Wunderlich on the kitchen floor severely injured, according to the criminal complaint. Deputies tried to “detain the defendant, but he ran into the basement of the home and fled out a rear door.”
Charlene Gail Wunderlich told the deputies that her son beat her before she lost consciousness. She was rushed to the hospital but died from her injuries.
Law enforcement agencies across the metro launched a manhunt for Wunderlich. Sheriff’s officials warned the public not to approach him as he was considered dangerous.
Just before 11 a.m. Tuesday, a resident in the 9800 block of 152nd St. N saw a man matching Wunderlich’s description in their trailer. KARE 11 spoke to the woman who owns the trailer, and she says her dogs were growling at the trailer, and when she opened the door Wunderlich was sleeping inside.
The woman said she screamed to her son who was working on the property to call 911. Her son had a brief conversation with Wunderlich and then Wunderlich ran down the road with no shoes to another property where, according to officials, police arrested him.
According to court documents, in 2021 Wunderlich was sentenced to 203 days in prison for violating a domestic abuse no-contact order. While serving that sentence, he was convicted of fourth-degree assault against a correctional officer.
The FDA recently approved the first pill to help symptoms of postpartum depression.
Having a baby is an exciting time in many parents’ lives. But for some parents, that excitement can come with postpartum depression and other emotions that can be difficult to talk about.
Dr. Lisa Saul, the national medical director of women’s health at UnitedHealthcare, visited KARE 11 News at Noon to share tips for parents and loved ones affected by postpartum depression.
First of all, what is it? The Mayo Clinic states that postpartum depression usually begins during or up to a year after a pregnancy. The symptoms include depressed mood, mood swings, crying excessively, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawing from friends and family, feelings of worthlessness, and additional symptoms.
The experience is more common than you might expect, as it affects up to 15% of people, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In August, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first pill to treat postpartum depression. This medication may lessen symptoms.
Saul also recommended talking about your feelings to loved ones and healthcare providers for support.
August was a promising month for employers, as 14,400 jobs were added.
Minnesota employers logged a remarkable August as they recorded the largest monthly increase in jobs in two years, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
In August, employers added 14,400 jobs. Employment grew by 0.5% in the state, exceeding the national average of 0.1%, according to DEED’s release. Unemployment rates increased to 3.3%, which still is lower than the national rate of 4.2%.
“We added the most jobs in a single month in two years, reflecting employers’ ongoing appetite to hire more workers,” DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in a statement. “September is Workforce Development Month in Minnesota, offering a reminder of the initiatives underway to invest in our economic future by recruiting and retaining workers and making sure Minnesota is creating the jobs of the future right here at home.”
Leisure and Hospitality jobs saw the most growth in Minnesota in August, increasing by 1.6%. Education and Health Services and Professional and Business Services also saw notable increases.
As for wages, DEED reported that the average private sector hourly wage is $37.74, which is a 5.9% increase over this year.
“Wage growth has consistently outpaced inflation, which is a good thing as we work to attract and retain talented workers for our labor force,” said Labor Market Information Director Angelina Nguyen in a statement.
Officials ID 1 of 2 killed during 3 shootings in Minneapolis on Wednesday tied to same gunman
The best early Amazon October Prime Day 2024 deals you can shop today
How to watch the New England Patriots vs. New York Jets NFL game tonight: Week 3 TNF Livestream options, more
Officials ID 1 of 2 killed during 3 shootings in Minneapolis on Wednesday tied to same gunman
The best early Amazon October Prime Day 2024 deals you can shop today
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings