Today, Cedric Alexander was sworn in as the City of Minneapolis’ first community safety commissioner. The ceremony was held in the Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda including Mayor Frey, City Council leadership and members, City Clerk Casey Carl, and safety partners from across the City and greater metro area.
Mayor Frey vested via executive order the Commissioner with the authority to oversee and direct the City’s community safety departments, including Police, Fire, 911, Emergency Management, and the Office of Violence Prevention (Neighborhood Safety).
“Today marks a defining step in pushing for a transformation in how we deliver service in Minneapolis – specifically, in how we approach our safety services,” said Frey. “Our communities have called out for safety, and they’ve called out for change. Commissioner Alexander is now answering that call.”
The order formalizes the Commissioner’s role in helping shape the new Office of Community Safety alongside policymakers.
“We need to bring these five public safety departments together – so they can work together, they can be creative and idealistic together. We need to move policing forward and rebuild relationships in the community,” Alexander said. “I’m here to help, but it’s going to take all of us in this great city to make Minneapolis a safer place for everyone. We can’t forget the past, but we truly do have to look toward the future. We need to redesign our approach to public safety so everyone is working together.”
