State Patrol, DNR partner with Minneapolis police for support at schools and places of worship
Following Wednesday's mass shooting during a Mass at Annunciation Church, which left two students dead and 18 other people hurt, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Department of Natural Resources have been deployed by Gov. Tim Walz to help Minneapolis police provide public safety at schools and places of worship within the city.
Walz issued the partnership order on Thursday, after the city requested the additional help.
According to Walz's office, 14 troopers and six DNR enforcement officers will coordinate with police to help with patrol coverage and visibility. Two squads, made of two people, will be assigned to one of the five precincts, where they will focus on schools and places of worship.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will also be helping Minneapolis police as the investigation into Wednesday's shooting continues.
"Our presence is about more than patrols - it's about letting the people of Minneapolis know they are not alone. Together with our law enforcement partners in Minneapolis, we're committed to protecting our neighborhoods and supporting the community," said State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic.
DNR Enforcement Division Director Col. Rodmen Smith said the enforcement officers are also committed to working with law enforcement partners, and that the agency "stands in support of the city and people of Minneapolis."
For Simon Osamoh, a career in law enforcement and counterterrorism has transitioned to creating safety plans for places of worship full-time. He is the CEO of Kingswood Security Consulting.
"I think there is this reflection as to what is safety planning look like in a house of worship? I would encourage them, if they're not having this conversation, they should definitely be having this conversation," Osamoh said.
Rick Kauffman knows school security. The former Columbine staffer spends the aftermath of each attack across the country helping districts respond. Now, he's assuring parents in his home district of Bloomington.
"Your kid is going to be safe in school," he said. "Be there for them this weekend. Work through whatever questions they may have, but bring them to school, because it's that united front: parents, caregivers, staff. We love kids and will welcome them with open arms."
It is not clear how long the extra security detail will be in place.
Looking to prevent future attacks
Making sure violent attacks don't happen in Minnesota has been a priority in the state government and law enforcement.
In March, Walz and the BCA announced the new statewide Targeted Violence Prevention Strategy: a wide-ranging proactive approach to not only stopping imminent threats, but ensuring troubled people never reach the point of crafting a plan to hurt others, getting them the help they need.
Some of the prevention strategies include public health policies that prevent risk factors and unhealthy behaviors before they emerge, providing services to people at risk, like school counselors and mental health providers, and rehabilitating offenders to prevent recurrence.
As for implementation, the plan outlines enhanced training for BCA threat assessment teams - then using that training to consult community stakeholders like schools, religious entities, workplaces and more.
A former member of the Department of Homeland Security who helped the state craft the plan says only eight states in the country even have a published Targeted Violence Prevention strategy, and that it will take the entire community working with law enforcement and mental health professionals to ensure it works.
"We have data to show this," Dr. Bruno Dias, a behavioral threat assessment/management consultant, said. "There's been studies by the United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center in which they outline many instances where a neighbor, a shopkeeper, someone, heard something. They got involved. They reported that information early on. And these systems, the supportive systems, were able to kick in and tragedies were prevented because of it."
The BCA has trained more than 750 people in the public and private sectors since the prevention strategy launched earlier this year. There are more than a dozen training sessions scheduled for the future, according to the BCA. The goal is to equip partners with tools to build their own violence prevention programs in their communities.
In the last six months, the unit has taken on 129 cases where agents and analysts "looked into and communicated with partners about people of concern," the BCA said. The cases have not resulted in any targeted violent events.
As of Thursday morning, at least one of the children hospitalized remained in critical condition. The shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, when the shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, approached from the outside of the building before firing a rifle through church windows toward those inside. The shooter also used a shotgun and a pistol that they had legally purchased "recently," said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.
An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old child were killed during the shooting. Multiple fundraisers are underway to help those affected, and vigils have been held across the metro area.
The BCA says it relies on law enforcement and mental health professionals, as well as educators and community leaders to learn about concerning or suspicious behavior. They ask that people report concerns to the BCA tip line at 877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.