St. Anthony applies for federal program to improve police-community relations

St. Anthony has applied to join a federal program aimed at improving trust between police and the community, the city announced Wednesday.

The move comes three months after St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights.

The city was recently notified by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is reviewing the city's application for the Collaborative Reform Initiative, according to a city news release.

"The City applied to enroll in the program to support its ongoing work to improve relations between its department, the cities it serves, and communities of color as a result of the recent tragic events," said the city's statement. "If the application to participate is accepted, the program will bring additional resources, experts, and other perspectives to St. Anthony."

The program is part of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. It's unclear when a decision about the application will be finalized.

Yanez fatally shot Castile on July 6. Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, live-streamed the aftermath on Facebook. The shooting sparked ongoing protests and calls for police reform.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigated the shooting and turned over its findings to Ramsey County Attorney John Choi on Sept. 28.

Choi has not said whether he will ask a grand jury to decide if Yanez should be criminally charged, or whether he will make the determination himself.