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1..~. ~ <br />Page 3 <br />City Council Minutes <br />April 27, 1994 <br />assigned to a Falcon Heights district. Finney replied that he <br />would first ask for volunteers from among the force and would <br />then request that the two cities jointly select the officers that <br />would serve Falcon Heights. <br />Councilmember Gibson Talbot asked the Chiefs to describe the <br />strengths and weaknesses of the Community Policing concept in St. <br />Paul. Finney replied that there have been differing levels of <br />interest in policing in general among the various St. Paul <br />neighborhoods, so naturally Community Policing has been more <br />successful in those neighborhoods that have a higher interest. <br />Steenburg commented that St. Paul has a number of community <br />councils within its borders which work with the police. Finney <br />assured the city council that St. Paul Police would attend any <br />meetings requested in the name of community relations. <br />Mayor Baldwin asked about St. Paul's formal procedures for <br />assuring gender and ethnic equity and diversity within the police <br />force. Finney responded that St. Paul wants its force to look <br />like the community it serves. St. Paul has a formal affirmative <br />action plan, part of which involves Chief Finney reviewing lists <br />for assignments and placements. These lists are reviewed and <br />must be balanced along gender and racial lines or they are <br />returned for revision. <br />CITY OF ST. ANTHONY <br />Presenter: Dick Engstrom, Chief of Police <br />Chief Engstrom stated that one of St. Anthony's strengths is that <br />it has knowledge of the needs of a small community. It recently <br />began serving the City of Lauderdale and both parties are happy <br />with the arrangement. The primary purpose of policing, according <br />to Chief Engstrom, is accessibility and communications between <br />the police and the residents, businesses, and staff of the <br />community. St. Anthony police focus on three areas of emphasis: <br />public relations, juvenile relations, and crime prevention. In <br />all three areas, the police stress friendly yet aggressive enfor- <br />cement of laws. Engstrom further stated that since Falcon <br />Heights is a bit more complex than St. Anthony or Lauderdale <br />(with respect to roads and land use) that the police force would <br />initially look for areas of perceived concern and emphasize <br />patrol in those areas. <br />Mayor Baldwin asked for clarification on office staffing and also <br />asked how St. Anthony would provide for community relations and <br />crime prevention programs. Engstrom confirmed that St. Anthony <br />would establish an office in Falcon Heights and would encourage <br />continuation of the National Night Out and Neighborhood Watch <br />Programs. St. Anthony does not have the McGruff program, but <br />