05-28-2024 Work Session CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
May 28, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Supple called the work session to order at 5:15 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members
Present:
Mary Supple, Mayor; Simon Trautmann, Sharon Christensen; Sean Hayford
Oleary, Ben Whalen
Staff Present:
Others Present:
Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; Jay Henthorne, Director of Public
Safety/Chief of Police; Mike Dobesh, Director of Fire Services/Fire Chief;
Kate Aitchison, Communications and Engagement Manager
Cassy Jerrett, Hennepin County Social Worker; John Brooks, Edina
Paramedic; Todd Axtell, Axtell Group; Rob Thomasser, Axtell Group
ITEM #1
THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TEAM PRESENTATION ON THE
INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM WITH INFORMATION REGARDING
ANTICIPATED RESPONSE CRITERIA, REFERRALS, AND FOLLOW-UP
City Manager Rodriguez provided a summary on the agenda and turned the first item over to
Chief Henthorne.
Chief Henthorne presented the Alternative Response Team (ART) infrastructure on the
program discussing their work in progress and the benefits of the Alternative Response Team’s model
for Richfield. He then discussed the executive team for the joint community Police partnership,
including the Board Chair and members from both departments. He stated a mental health detective
would follow-up on cases and would triage cases with different referral processes in each department.
Chief Henthorne proposed a centralized hub for mental heath calls between Brooklyn Park
and Edina, with embedded social workers triaging the calls along with follow-up assessment needed
for appropriate call types and documentation, with ongoing collaboration between the cities. He
presented a pilot project to gather data on an alternative response model for Richfield and Edina.
Chief Dobesh emphasized the importance of collecting data on the impact of the program on the
community and discussed the need to collect broad data sets to make informed decisions later on.
Paramedic Brooks explained the activation process such as responding to calls involving
mental health issues without violence or transportation holds. He noted that ART aims to narrow the
scope based on utilization and data collection with potential expansion, if needed. He indicated the
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program aims to collect individuals in crisis with resources and support them through personalized
follow-ups and community outreach.
Paramedic Brooks noted the program seeks to facilitate relationships between social workers
and individuals in need, rather than standing in the way of existing support systems. He indicated
mental health calls that are non-violent or meet certain criteria, such as suicide ideation, could be
directed to a middle ground between primary care and emergency services. Social Worker Jerret
stated suicidal threats or ideation might not always mean immediate harm, and a team such as this
could help connect individuals with resources and support.
Council Member Trautmann questioned the coding of events or calls for service as violent or
nonviolent, highlighting the need for flexible responses. He emphasized value added through
immediate help.
Council Member Trautmann, Paramedic Brooks and Social Worker Jerrett discussed staffing
models but did express concerns about the team’s capacity.
Council Member Whalen expressed his excitement about the program.
Chief Henthorne expressed concerns regarding violence during the ART’s responses and
wanted to develop good codes for when to use them. Social Worker Jerrett indicated officer response
to calls could drop from three to one percent with ART’s involvement which would free up resources
for other calls.
Mayor Supple thanked everyone for their presentation.
ITEM #2
REVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING STUDY BY THE AXTELL
GROUP
Chief Henthorne introduced Todd Axtell and Rob Thomasser of the Axtell Group to present
their organization and staffing study.
Mr. Axtell presented the police staffing assessment indicating the community members
expressed trust in Richfield’s Police but had varying experiences with law enforcement. He indicated
the community wanted more interaction with the Police, including in the business zones and the
parks. He noted the community desired increased transparency and victim-centered approach to
criminal justice. He highlighted the importance of strategic thinking to address police officer
retirements in Minnesota.
With respect to the Police Department’s structure, staffing, and training, Mr. Thomasser
praised the department’s leadership and staff for their care and dedication. He noted research
involved community input, employee surveys, and department data for a comprehensive assessment.
He stated the department prioritized community involvement in the strategic plan and the department
prioritized hiring ten people, including 8 sworn officers and 2 non-sworn personnel to address staffing
challenges and improve wellness for first responders.
Mr. Thomasser stated their report recommended mission-specific recommendations to
enhance training, address mental health concerns, and improve overall department efficiency.
With respect to the Police Department’s staffing level and investigative functions, Mr.
Thomasser stated the 12-hour shift schedule had advantages such as it was manageable and it
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appealed to the officers as well as disadvantages such as fatigue and reduced staff redundancy. He
noted proper staffing was crucial to avoid challenges and risks associated with the 12-hour schedule.
He indicated the investigators wanted to solve every crime, but workload and staffing limitations
hindered their ability to do that. He noted the investigators recommended additional resources to
improve outcomes and shift from reactive to proactive approach.
Mr. Axtell indicated the Police Chief emphasized the importance of having analysts to help
officers solve crimes. He noted the Department aims to prevent crimes by investing in staffing,
technology, and community engagement and they want to leverage the community’s strength to
address challenges and improve the quality of life.
Mr. Axtell stated recommendations included hiring two Sergeants and a Community
Engagement Specialist to help prevent crime and suggested adding more Police officers to bridge the
gap between uniform and non-uniform sides of the Department.
Mayor Supple asked for feedback on adding patrol positions, citing potential impact on budget
and priorities. Mr. Thomasser emphasized the importance of adequate staffing for patrol units to
reduce liability and improve outcomes.
Mayor Supple agreed highlighting the impact on first responders’ health and ability to do their
job effectively.
Mr. Axtell highlighted the challenges of managing sick leave for law enforcement officers,
including the impact on officer well-being and the need for flexible scheduling solutions.
Council Member Trautmann agreed with the approach to prioritizing employee happiness and
health, including asking team members what they want and providing adjunct roles to address
capacity issues.
Mr. Axtell discussed changes in Police officers’ attitudes toward work, overtime, and mental
wellness and recommended a City led initiative to complement the Police Department’s efforts in
attracting candidates.
The Council expressed appreciation for the Police presence in the community and desires
more community engagement noting that community engagement and crime prevention strategies
could help reduce Police staffing needs.
With respect to the Police Department’s training and staffing needs, Mr. Thomasser
recommended increased Police hiring to improve community relations. He indicated the department
should aim to free up schedules and add a training Sergeant to improve training delivery and the
department should try to create a training Sergeant position to alleviate scheduling stress and provide
more dynamic training. He noted the department also prioritizes training to stay out of trouble and
maintain a well-trained Police force. He also discussed challenges in providing in-service training due
to increased mandates and limited time.
Council Member Whalen expressed an interest in learning more about proactive police work in
Richfield and raised concern about over-policing, particularly affecting individuals with records trying
to redeem themselves.
Mr. Axtell emphasized the importance of strategic policing, using data and analysis to pinpoint
areas of concern and prevent crimes.
Mayor Supple thanked everyone for coming and participating in the Work Session.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Supple adjourned the work session at 6:55 pm.
Date Approved: June 11, 2024
Mary B. Supple
Mayor
Kelly Wynn Katie Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant City Manager