MINNEAPOLIS — University of Minnesota Police are exploring the addition of a "safety center" somewhere in the heart of Dinkytown, in response to lingering crime concerns in the off-campus neighborhood comprised mostly of students.
UMPD Chief Matt Clark unveiled the proposal during a Board of Regents presentation on Friday. Although details remain scarce, the safety center would essentially act as a central hub for police, students and community groups. Along with the safety center, Clark said his department also plans to expand a mutual aid agreement with Minneapolis Police -- which holds primary jurisdiction over Dinkytown -- by assisting them with more non-emergency 911 calls in the area.
"We believe an off-campus safety center would be a valuable resource for the campus community, but it would also be a location for our safety ambassadors, some of our community elders we work with, especially in the summer, and our first responders to go to at night," Clark said. "We think not only answering lower-level calls and expanding our mutual aid, but also adding an off-campus safety center would be beneficial."
Clark did not say how much the project might cost, nor did he say where exactly the safety center would be located. However, he said the department is exploring options to either lease a private building or use existing university-owned space in Dinkytown.
The center could open as early as the fall, according to Clark.
"The idea behind that is investing more in an area of Dinkytown that has safety issues," Clark said.
During Friday's meeting, Clark reported a 60-percent drop in violent crime in Dinkytown from 2021 to 2023. Although his department does not have primary jurisdiction over the area, UMPD has assisted MPD with security cameras and the presence of at least two police officers each night.
Still, some high-profile incidents -- such as a double homicide last December at a tobacco shop -- show there's more work to be done.
U of M sophomore Dave Cornell said he thought the safety center sounded like a "good idea."
"I do [already] see patrol cars out and about, and that does make me feel safer," he said, "just to see their presence."
Erin Brumm, a director on the board of the parent-led nonprofit Campus Safety Coalition, said she's "very, very supportive" of the concept and urged the Board of Regents to move the proposal forward.
"Honestly, we can't wait until it opens," Brumm said. "It's such a ripe time to have something like that down in that environment. I really hope people get behind it."
Regent James Farnsworth also expressed enthusiasm.
"I think the Dinkytown Safety Center is a tremendous idea," Farnsworth told KARE 11, "and I'd like us to be able to move on opening it sooner than the fall."
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