Minneapolis partnering with Harvard group to research safety efforts

A team based at Harvard University is assisting the city of Minneapolis as elected leaders attempt to fulfill a promise to transform public safety in the wake of George Floyd's death.

The university's Leadership for a Networked World, run by Antonio Oftelie, is expected to provide research results to the city in December or January.

City Coordinator Mark Ruff said researchers were asked to create a master list of the violence prevention programs run by the city, Park Board and school district, so they can identify "what is everybody doing, and how do we avoid redundancies."

Researchers were also asked to provide information about how other cities have folded new services — beyond police, fire and medics — into their 911 operations.

Ruff said this work is separate from the charter amendment efforts — which will determine the fate of the Minneapolis Police Department — and is meant to help develop a broader, three- to five-year plan for safety in the city.

The city does not anticipate any cost to taxpayers. The work is being funded by roughly $400,000 in donations from the Pohlad Family Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation and Joyce Foundation to Oftelie's organization.

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