Brooklyn Center Hires Committee Manager to Implement Police Reform
Brooklyn Center has hired a manager to lead efforts in implementing public safety reform initiatives.
David Zaffrann introduced himself at this week’s Brooklyn Center City Council meeting. He will lead an implementation committee to install several reform measures, including a new mental health unit and a civilian traffic enforcement response unit for non-moving violations.
“We had a long and robust search,” said Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott, who led the hiring process.
The Brooklyn Center City Council approved the reform measures in its budget last December. The reform is partially funded by freezing three vacant police officer positions. According to budget documents, the city set aside $80,000 in the 2022 budget for the implementation committee manager position.
Zaffrann served as a senior police aide for the last four years to former Minneapolis City Council member Steve Fletcher. Fletcher, who was not re-elected last November, led efforts to reform Minneapolis policing. Four other incumbents also lost re-election in Minneapolis as police funding and rising crime became a key issue in that city.
Zaffran said Fletcher’s efforts included the founding of the Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention and the city’s behavioral crisis response teams.
“I’m really look forward to hitting the ground running on this project,” said Zaffrann at the Jan. 10 meeting.
Some personal news: today I started as the Public Safety Implementation Committee Manager in the City of Brooklyn Center.
— David Zaffrann (@dzaffrann) January 11, 2022
Also See: Police Union: Brooklyn Center Officers ‘Leaving in Droves,’ Staff Count Down 25%
