Minneapolis cops to field squad of hundreds for All-Star Game

Downtown Minneapolis will be brimming with police officers, but not many police cars, when the All-Star Game rolls into town next month.

That's the plan from Police Chief Janeé Harteau, who said Tuesday that "hundreds" of officers on foot, bicycles and horses will provide 24-hour coverage before and after the game at Target Field on July 15.

"Cops are going to be everywhere," she said at an afternoon news conference Tuesday on Nicollet Mall.

"We want people to have a great, fun atmosphere, but we also understand that we need to make sure that public safety is our No. 1 priority," Harteau said. "Although we don't expect major issues, we do have to plan for those."

No specific threats have been made against the city related to the game, Harteau added.

Metro Transit Police Chief John Harrington joined Harteau, saying his department will also be at full strength, with about 90 full-time and 104 part-time officers on patrol.

Harteau declined to be specific about how many officers she plans to put in place for the game and related festivities. Asked earlier what the security effort will cost the city, Harteau said she would provide costs after the event.

Matt McKinney • 612-217-1747