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r--1 i .__J `1 Page 4 City Council Minutes April 27, 1994 ~..~, Lauderdale does and this would also continue in Falcon Heights. St. Anthony police feels communication with both residents and staff is essential. They favor a community policing style, where officers get out of their cars and informally meet the public rather than staying in their cars and patrolling. Councilmember Jacobs asked for an explanation of "Traditional Policing in a Non-Traditional Way" as stated in the St. Anthony cover letter. Engstrom stated that this referred to the community policing concept, whereby police get out of their cars and interact informally with citizens and businesses. Councilmember Gehrz inquired as to how St. Anthony would handle large/serious crime situations and if the Chief could foresee having difficulty dealing with three different sets of city codes. Engstrom responded that in disaster situations, St. Anthony has arrangements with other cities to provide mutual aid and that Hennepin County provides crime lab services. The St. Anthony force has enough staffing to respond to any kind of crime. The maximum number of cars that would initially respond to a crime in progress would be six. As for dealing with three different city codes, Engstrom did not foresee that this would be a problem, as squad cars all carry copies of the codes and there will also be a copy in the Falcon Heights office. Councilmember Gibson Talbot asked Chief Engstrom to describe what St. Anthony has learned thus far in serving the City of Lauder- dale. Engstrom responded that the most important matter learned is that policing another city requires constant analysis to keep service quality high. In Lauderdale, some areas have needed more special attention and personal contact, and St. Anthony has tried to respond to these needs. Councilmember Hustad inquired as to other crime prevention activities offered by St. Anthony, outside of street visibility and traffic enforcement. Engstrom cited participation in school programs such as DARE as examples of prevention activities. Mayor Baldwin asked about St. Anthony's formal procedures for assuring gender and ethnic equity and diversity within the police force. Engstrom answered that St. Anthony uses MPRS procedures for hiring and is an EEOC employer. There is currently one minority officer, but no female officer. Engstrom stated that they attempt to recruit qualified female and minority candidates, but that big cities are usually more successful in attracting these types of officers.