Brooklyn Park Changes Course, Hires Different Violence Intervention Group
Brooklyn Park hired Minneapolis-based Men in Black Security for violence intervention services for the remainder of 2023. The Men in Black Security organization says it is a “consulting firm who strongly believes that the first line of defense is communication.”
The group previously worked to de-escalate the Franklin and Chicago and the Broadway and Lyndale areas of Minneapolis.
Robbinsdale-based nonprofit Minnesota Acts Now did violence intervention work for Brooklyn Park for the last two years. It worked to de-escalate situations in the 63rd and Zane corridor. Several council members praised Minnesota Acts Now and said it did the job it was hired to do.
People who worked for Minnesota Acts Now wore bright orange shirts to identify themselves as violence interrupters.
“The discussion isn’t who has led us to where we are now. A big part of the discussion is who has the capacity to work in some difficult areas, who can get us to the 2.0 version,” said Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston, who said that included mapping out issues and building relationships. “The reality of the situation is summer is coming.”
Three organizations presented information in Monday night’s council meeting, which included Men in Black Security, Minnesota Acts Now and A Mother’s Love.
The council voted in a 5-0 vote, with Boyd Morson abstaining, to hire Men in Black Security at a cost not to exceed $650,000.
To listen to the full discussion, click here.
See also: Brooklyn Park Partners with Minnesota Acts Now to Help Reduce Violence
