The Saint Paul Police Department proactively promotes public trust by initiating positive non-enforcement activities to engage all communities, especially those communities that experience higher rates of investigative and enforcement involvement with government agencies. Recognizing that a viable and effective community relations program is essential to public safety, the department has established a dedicated community engagement unit (CEU).

Responsibility:

The Saint Paul Police Department community engagement unit is led by a senior commander who reports to the deputy chief of the major crimes division. Sworn officers and dedicated civilian community engagement specialists facilitate a variety of programs designed to improve public safety by connecting community and policing. These programs include:

  • Officer recruitment
  • Saint Paul Police Explorer Post #454
  • Career path academy
  • Saint Paul Police Athletic League (PAL)
  • Police reserve program
  • Direct community engagement
  • Police internship program
  • Junior police academy
  • Police band
  • Chaplain program
  • Honor Guard
  • Special event permitting for parades, races, block parties, and public assemblies
  • Police ride-along program
  • Community event staffing and support
  • Community outreach

Recruitment: 

The Saint Paul Police Department is committed to seeking candidates of good moral character, which is paramount in establishing and expanding trust between law enforcement and the community. The department is also committed to workforce diversity. In collaboration with the City of Saint Paul Equity Initiative, the CEU will strive to create a workforce that encompasses a broad range of diversity including race, gender, language, life experience, and culture reflective of our community. 

Explorer Post:

The Saint Paul Police Department, in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America, Northern Star Council, sponsors and supports Explorer Post #454 to mentor and support Saint Paul youth and foster interest in law enforcement careers. The post will serve to assist the department through various public service projects.

Career Path Academy: 

The career path academy is for young adults who are interested in becoming Saint Paul police officers but face financial or other barriers to attending college and finding employment. The department has partnered with the Community Action Program and Century College to develop a comprehensive program to give participants an opportunity to become Saint Paul police officers. Eligible participants will earn an hourly income while they learn life skills, attend college, and receive the necessary social support services to allow them to achieve a successful career as a police officer.

Police Athletic League (PAL):

The PAL program promotes positive relationships between police officers and Saint Paul youth through community-based educational and recreational opportunities.  PAL encourages youth engagement in a variety of after school and summer recreational activities, including sports, water park visits, and trips to the zoo and through one-on-one mentorship for young people and police officers and community volunteers.

Police Reserve Program:

The police reserve program deploys well-trained reserve officers to support large events in non-law enforcement roles alongside sworn officers.

Community Engagement:

Dedicated civilian community engagement specialists cultivate partnerships within the community to facilitate meaningful department outreach. Community engagement specialists also help the department respond to public inquiries and requests for assistance. Civilian community engagement specialists receive and share information through formal and informal contacts and relationships, meetings, training opportunities, and community events.

Internships:

The department offers a limited number of internships throughout the year open to college-level students who wish to pursue a career as a police officer and who must complete an internship as part of their academic requirements. The structural or procedural guidelines for this internship program are based on each student’s area of interest and expectations of the department. Intern duties and responsibilities will vary from student to student based on specified areas of interest and needs of the department. Interns will report to the senior commander of the CEU. All internship requests must be submitted in writing.

Junior Police Academy:

The Junior Police Academy is a first step in engaging youth in other opportunities to volunteer or work for the SPPD. The Academy provides a basic overview of the role of police officers in our community and provides participating youth with a preview of careers in law enforcement. The CEU actively recruits Academies that are reflective of our community.

Police Band: 

The police band is supported by civilian and sworn musicians and consists of both a marching band and a concert band. The police band participates in about 20 parades per year and performs concerts and rehearses throughout the year. The Police Band practices in the Harding High School Band Room.

Police Chaplains:

The chaplain program serves sworn officers and civilians in their time of need through services and counseling. Chaplains have been called upon to assist officers in rendering assistance to victims, family members, and others in our community. Chaplains come from a variety of faiths and belief systems and offer practical and spiritual guidance to everyone irrespective of their religious affiliation.

Honor Guard:

The Saint Paul Police Department Honor Guard present colors at department and community events, parades, ceremonies, and services.  

Permit and Event Planning:

The CEU issues street closure permits for events, parades, races, block parties, and public assemblies on behalf of the department with the review and advice of a committee representing the departments of police, fire, parks and recreation, safety and inspections, public works, and emergency management. A CEU sergeant is assigned to oversee the permit and planning process.

Community Outreach:

The CEU receives and facilitates requests to the department for tours, speakers, or demonstrations from our community, including churches, schools, parent-teacher associations, civic groups, and individuals. The CEU will determine which unit or district is best suited to fulfill the request and notify that unit or district commander of the request for follow up.

Operations:

Time off for band or honor guard appearances

  • If the member has a regular day off, s/he will not be compensated for the appearance.
  • If the appearance is during a normally-scheduled shift and “in town”, members will be allowed four hours off-duty. “In town” is defined as the seven-county metro area. If the appearance is outside of the seven-county metro area it will be considered “detached duty”. The member’s supervisor will decide which tour will be marked as “in town” or “detached duty”.
  • Rehearsals for band or honor guard members on tours I or II will be on the member’s own time. Members on tour III will be granted three hours off-duty.

Honor guard requests

  • All honor guard requests must be submitted to the chief of police.
  • Only the chief of police can approve an honor guard appearance.
  • The CEU will notify all immediate supervisors when honor guard members will be called away from normal duty for an appearance.
  • Every reasonable effort will be made to use on-duty members for the honor guard detail.
  • Honor guard members may be eligible for overtime status.
  • Any officer of the Saint Paul Police Department, regardless of rank, may apply for a position with the honor guard.
  • The honor guard is authorized for 20 members.
  • Honor guard equipment and uniforms will be purchased by community and volunteer services.

Ride-alongs

  • All ride-along requests must be in writing and pre-approved by the chief of police or her/his designee. Ride-along requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.
  • Only district commanders or the watch commander may approve last minute ride-along requests. In this case, the district commander and/or watch commander will still attempt to contact the chief of police or her/his designee for confirmation, and in all cases, the request must still be in writing. <!-- -->
  • The chief, assistant chief, or a deputy chief may authorize an unscheduled ride-along.
  • The CEU will schedule approved ride-alongs.
  • All participants (except assistant city attorneys required to participate as a condition of employment) must sign a waiver participating in a ride-along.
  • Under no circumstances will participants ride along with relatives or significant others. The only exception is when the participant is also a certified law enforcement officer.
  • Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Participants are allowed only one ride-along per calendar year, unless authorized by the chief of police or her/his designee. Any district or watch commander approving a last-minute request must determine if the person making the request has had a previous ride-along during the calendar year.
  • Ride-alongs are allowed only in the three patrol districts and the traffic and accident unit. Ride-alongs may not be conducted in an investigative or specialty unit unless authorized by the chief or her/his designee.
  • Ride-alongs are permitted on any day of the week (except holidays) and are open to all tours, but are limited to one per district per tour.
  • Participants will not be permitted to wear any sayings, insignias, or emblems on their clothing and are not allowed to bring weapons, handcuffs, cameras, or recording equipment.

To schedule a ride-along, the CEU will forward a letter to the requester indicating the date for the ride-along and participant requirements. The CEU will notify the district commander of the ride-along assignment and its date and time. All ride-alongs will be picked up and dropped off in front of the police building at 367 Grove Street.

The assigned officer will meet the participant at the front desk. Before leaving for the ride-along, assigned officers must ensure that a participant waiver form is signed and submitted to the watch commander. Participants cannot go out on a ride-along without a signed waiver. A copy of this waiver will be forwarded to the community and volunteer services unit to complete the file.

Ride-alongs may be terminated at any time at the election of the participant. If an officer terminates a ride-along early, they must transmit in writing their reasons for terminating the engagement to the CEU. The community and volunteer services unit will make a copy of the officer’s written reasons for termination for the file and forward the original to the appropriate division commander.

Revised March 21, 2017

Last Edited: March 29, 2017