HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 07-31 National Night Out Takes on New Meaning for Maplewood Police KSTP 5 EYE WITNESS NEWS8/3/2016
KSTP.com
KSTPc�C�EYEWITIVE55 NES
National Night Out Takes on New Meaning for Maplewood
Police
Updated: 07/31/2016 6:13 PM KSTP.com By: Tyler Berg
Communities and the police who serve them have been gathering
for National Night out for 33 years.
The events, held the first Tuesday of August in more than 16,000
neighborhoods, are aimed at building relationships between
police and community. This year, Maplewood Police Chief Paul
Schnell says it's needed now more than ever.
From coast to coast and across the Twin Cities, the rift between
police and community can be clear.
"This is probably one of the most difficult and challenging times in law enforcement history, at
least going back to the 1960s," Schnell said.
In the last nine months, Minnesota's officer -involved shooting deaths of Philando Castille and
Jamar Clark have spurred protests calling for more accountability for police.
"We know that our officers are going to face some scrutiny; some are going to face some
challenges," Schnell said. "There's certainly going to be questions raised."
Schnell said the current climate has nearly all of the city's sworn personnel involved in this
year's National Night Out.
"We're really heavily mobilizing this year more than ever," Schnell said.
It's a night nearby Minneapolis has owned over the years, beating out all of the country's
largest cities by holding the most neighborhood get-togethers.
Schnell said it may be tough, but this year needs to be about building and not breaking.
"This is a situation where we do need this now more than ever," Schnell said. "We have to be in
a place where, as law enforcement, we are reaching out, we are leaning in, we are making
connections even when it's challenging to do."
hftp://hbispace.com/printStory/kstp/index.cfm?id=4217240 1 /1