Work Session — Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Items on the record

1. Item 1Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

   Alternative Response Team (ART) Infrastructure Presentation

   Richfield Police Chief Jay Henthorne and Edina/Hennepin County partners presented plans for a joint Alternative Response Team pairing embedded social workers, a mental health detective, and a paramedic to respond to non-violent mental health calls in Richfield and Edina. The program would use a centralized referral 'hub' and self-assignment via CAD/radio monitoring, with officials estimating officer response to some mental health calls could drop from about 3% to 1% involvement. No formal action was taken; a hard launch date remains to be determined.

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2. Item 2Discussedinformational or procedural item — no vote taken

   Axtell Group Police Organization and Staffing Study Review

   The Axtell Group presented findings from a professional staffing and organizational assessment of the 57-person Richfield Police Department, the city's first such study in several decades. Recommendations included hiring ten new positions (8 sworn officers and 2 non-sworn staff), adding two Sergeants and a Community Engagement Specialist, creating a training Sergeant role, and reassessing the 12-hour shift schedule to reduce officer fatigue and improve retention. No formal budget decision was made; the council discussed trade-offs on cost, staffing levels, and community engagement priorities.

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