Northfielders are starting to notice an increased police presence downtown, and the Northfield Police Department wants everyone to know that it is not because of
a rising crime rate or impending threat.
Since he took office, Police Chief Mark Elliott has been implementing Community Policing policies that are designed to create a better connection between the police department and the general public. Elliott believes, as do many others in law enforcement, that a deeper connection between police officers and those they are sworn to protect and serve leads to crime prevention and a deeper sense of trust.
The latest initiative involves more police on foot patrol during the day. Elliott said the officers walking through downtown are there to get to know the business owners, the employees and the patrons of those businesses as well. While the beat cop is hardly a new idea, it is a technique that has been embraced by more communities throughout the country in the last few years after falling out of fashion. Foot patrols can help to break down the barriers that exist between police officers and the communities they serve. By interacting with residents in a non-threatening and approachable manner, officers can build trust and improve their relationships with the community. Elliott said it also gives officers an opportunity to hear about concerns within the community, such as parking issues, or the recent attempted robbery of the Downtown Tobacco store. The more the police interact with the community, he said, the deeper the lines of communication get.
City Administrator Ben Martig said he believes the patrols are a good idea.
“You know, it’s some of the best practices in the industry. There’s been a lot of discussion about the Community Policing Initiative going back to the Obama administration, and the police department continues to adopt those practices and implement them locally. I think it’s a good initiative. I hope it goes well and we certainly encourage people to engage with the officers when they see them and just strike up a conversation if they if they cross paths.”
While presenting his quarterly report to the City Council on Tuesday night, Elliott said there might have been some initial misunderstanding about why there were more police walking around downtown. It’s possible, he said, that there wasn’t enough interaction between the officers and business owners and employees, so the department has created a flier for all in the downtown area to understand what is happening.
“We want to make sure that they know what we’re there for and what the intent is behind that. Hopefully we can have those conversations and explain that when we have time our purpose is to interact. Sometimes that’s not feasible, but we really want to make sure that our residents know what we’re doing. And I think some feedback we received has really helped us to understand that.”
The foot patrols began regularly in January. Elliot said, despite the initial confusion, officers have mostly had a welcoming experience. He said the community can expect the patrols to continue.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig can be heard here
Community Action Center looking to fill several positions
Community Action Center is currently looking to fill several Americorps positions in both Northfield and Faribault. 
According to its website, CAC defines itself as a human services organization whose mission is to promote a healthy, caring, and just community for all people through resources, advocacy, and volunteer efforts. The Americorps positions that the organization is looking to fill center around food access, housing, and addiction recovery.
Two positions are open in the VISTA program, one specifically noted in Faribault. The responsibilities center around food access work through program development, community outreach & engagement, local partnerships, and collaboration with program staff to improve the CAC food shelf offerings.
Four positions are available with the Heading Home Corps. As Housing Resource Navigators, those who fill these positions will help people experiencing homelessness achieve their housing goals. The position offers direct experience in housing advocacy, social services, and public assistance programs.
And two positions are open with the Recovery Corps to help others build a healthier life in recovery from a substance use disorder. The Recovery Navigator positions are for those who have spent at least one uninterrupted year in recovery from a substance use disorder themselves, helping others through mentoring, peer support and resource navigation.
The starting dates for the positions are staggered throughout the year from May through January.
A summer position as a Climate Resilience Fellow is open right now as well. The person in this position will implement environmental programs and initiatives and will also complete a leadership development program designed to develop the next generation of climate leaders.
Holden book written for former NHS students, staff
And the Northfield Public Library will hold a very special installment of the Author Talk series with a man who taught at Northfield High School from 1970-1991.
Longtime educator Jim Holden will discuss his time in Northfield on Saturday, May 13.
Holden’s new book is called Retracing Footsteps: Memories of Teaching at Northfield High School. It is a nostalgic trip to the transformative decades of the 1970s and ’80s when he was an NHS English teacher. It is an attempt to give readers a sense of what school life was like during those years of social unrest, racial tension, war protests, cultural upheaval, advancing technology and many school innovations. The book is geared especially to former Northfield high school students, teachers, and staff, but he also hopes it will be of interest to other Northfield residents who lived through those years.
Holden will speak and read from his book beginning at 1pm, one week from tomorrow at the Northfield Public Library
This event is free and open to the public. Copies of Holden’s self-published book will be available for purchase after the talk. Space is limited and attendees are asked to please register in advance on the library’s website at mynpl.org.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
