Across the country, tensions between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve continue to rise, and I want residents to know that the Plymouth Police Department remains attentive. We are listening, we are observing and we are tuned in. We remain committed to enhancing and improving our relationship with all members of our community, while also fulfilling our primary goal of keeping Plymouth safe.

We know that the current issues surrounding law enforcement are deeply personal for many. And while we sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from the community, we cannot rest on our laurels or depend solely on our boosters. We will remain proactive and continue to develop inroads with all residents.

Our goal is to be a part of the community, not apart from the community.

Changes to Law Enforcement
In June, I shared a message in response to the death of George Floyd. As a leader in public safety, it was entirely disheartening to see an event so inconsistent with acceptable law enforcement practices.

In that message, I highlighted measures that we have implemented to set our officers up for greater success in serving the community. I encourage you to read that message and learn more about our policies and initiatives related to hiring, training, non-discrimination, mental health, officer wellness and transparency.  

As we continue to see unrest in areas across the country, it can be challenging to see progress – yet changes are occurring and people are finding common ground.   

In Minnesota, state lawmakers recently mandated key changes for police departments. These changes promote the sanctity of life and work to limit the use of deadly force.

Plymouth was already meeting many of the new requirements, and we have embraced those that are in the process of being implemented.  

Focusing on Progress in Plymouth
Law enforcement is not one-size-fits-all – each department must adapt to the community it serves. I continue to be proud of what we have accomplished in Plymouth and I consider this department to be progressive, responsive and engaged.

For example, every Plymouth police officer is required to go through de-escalation training, which can make a significant difference during interactions that have the potential to turn negative. More and more, police officers are called to respond to mental health crises. In Plymouth, we have continually improved training and our officers’ capability in responding to situations that require greater care and understanding. Increasing our capabilities in this area is the right thing for all involved.

We are in the second year of a pilot a program with the Minnetonka Police Department that features an on-staff social worker to provide relevant connections to mental health resources – because an officer is not always the best person for the task.

We also remain committed to the 21st Century Policing Model, which includes robust programming to help ensure that our officers are mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically fit.

A long-standing effort of our department is to create community engagement wherever we can. Unfortunately, COVID-19 gets in the way of in-person efforts during a time when they are needed most. When it is safe to do so, we will reactivate those efforts and continue to build on them.

In the meantime, we continue to host virtual community group conversations, which will include some unique opportunities we will be announcing soon. I am also happy to say that we are able to hold this year’s Public Safety Citizens Academy with appropriate COVID-19 guidelines in place. The in-depth 10-week course opens the doors and invites the community to gain a deeper understanding of public safety operations in Plymouth.

Continuing Conversations
In Plymouth, we have talented officers who serve with professionalism every day. Though we are not perfect, we strive to attain excellence in all that we do. We still have a job to do – and as we help lead and embrace changes, we must do so in a way that keeps our residents safe. Bad things still happen at times, and we must react to those situations with enforcement or education, as appropriate. 

As a community, we need to keep this conversation alive and measured. Too often, complicated issues can be boiled down to soundbites while ignoring nuance and understanding. Law enforcement is a necessary function within the community, but it must be carried out in a legitimate manner that does not marginalize community members and allows everyone to feel safe.

The nature of law enforcement makes it very difficult to please everyone at all times. But the bottom line is that no one should be made to feel unsafe or unprotected based on the color of their skin, their mental health, their socio-economic status or any other discriminatory reason.

Here in Plymouth, we are paying attention to what is happening locally and nationally. We know there is room for improvement and we know that we cannot achieve that improvement in a silo.

We regularly receive questions and comments from the community – and we welcome the feedback. Please reach out to us and help us continue this conversation.

From the Plymouth Police Department, thank you for the opportunity to serve this community.

Mike Goldstein
Plymouth Public Safety Director