Brooklyn Park Hires Outside Firm to Review Police Department to Ensure Racial Equity
The Brooklyn Park City Council has approved the hire of an outside research firm to conduct a review of the city’s police department. The review is one of the recommended steps by the city’s Human Rights Commission and the police department’s Multicultural Advisory Committee to evaluate possible race equity issues in policing. This week the city council approved the hiring of Wilder Research, which is based out of St. Paul.
The firm will seek to identify areas where Brooklyn Park police are doing well and areas in possible need of improvement. The police reform effort came together after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police last May.
“Brooklyn Park is one of the most culturally rich areas in the Midwest with more than 50 percent BIPOC and 1 in 5 of their residents born in other countries,” said Mayor Jeff Lunde in a press release. “We have always worked to have understanding between officers and our diverse community members. Hiring Wilder Research is a proactive approach to see if there is anything else we can do to continue building trust between our officers and community members.”
At the end of the evaluation, the city council will receive a report that will include “data driven recommendations for addressing violence holistically and recommendations for improving policing,” a city statement said.
According to city documents, the outside evaluation by Wilder Research is expected to cost $46,500. That figure is in the cost range already included in the proposed 2021 budget. City officials note the final cost and contract won’t be finalized until next week. The Brooklyn Park City Council will vote on its 2021 budget on Monday that includes the final property tax levy.
The evaluation is set to begin this month and be completed in 2021.
Brooklyn Park police have long been involved with a community-oriented policing policy. To learn more, click here.
CCX News Executive Producer Corey Bork contributed to this report.
