Office of Neighborhood Safety

About the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS)

The Office of Neighborhood Safety leads the  advancement of the Community-First Public Safety framework through the coordination of Community-First investments, including violence prevention strategies and alternative response, in close collaboration with our Department of Safety and Inspections, Saint Paul Police Department, Saint Paul Fire Department, and other Community-First Public Safety partners.  

The Office will establish a permanent Neighborhood Safety Community Council which will engage community residents, local stakeholders, and public safety representatives to inform strategy development, as well as directing resources to impacted communities.  

The Office of Neighborhood Safety also engages in research, data collection, and analysis through participatory methods that engage residents and system stakeholders in the co-development of neighborhood assessments, alongside interventions that are responsive to the needs of our neighbors. 

Brooke Blakey was appointed as the first-ever Director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety in February 2022.  

Community First Public Safety (CFPS) Framework

The Office of Neighborhood Safety advances the Community First Public Safety (CFPS) framework that seeks to transcend crime response to build a compelling violence reduction strategy for Saint Paul which is informed by deep public engagement, research, tracking and analysis of real time data, and cross-sector collaboration of stakeholders. These are the principles that guide this work: 

• Enhancing The Capacity of Our Public Safety Systems: People who trust that law enforcement systems and personnel will treat them fairly are more likely to follow the law, assist investigations, and call 911 in an emergency. 

• Improving Community Connectivity and Supports: Residents who are financially stable and connected to community are less likely to commit a crime or be victimized by criminal activity. 

• Leveraging Research and Localized Data to Inform Policy and Strategies: CFPS partners share respective data, dashboards, metrics, grids, logic models, and report outs to analyze and inform collaborative work. 

• Collaborating To Create Shared Expectations, Process & Outcomes: CFPS partners build trust and cohesion to ensure support and leverage of respective projects/initiatives for the greatest collective impact on violence reduction. 

• Designing Public Spaces for Safety: The quality of our built environment strongly influences the outcomes and behaviors that occur within. Public spaces that are well designed, well-maintained, and well-lit proactively improve quality of life, and limit opportunity for undesirable activities.

View the Community First Public Safety Dashboard

Office of Neighborhood Safety Leadership

Brooke Blakey, Director

Brooke Blakey, director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety, joined the City of Saint Paul from Metro Transit, where she has served as Chief of Staff to Metro Transit Chief of Police. In this role, she oversaw operations, investigations, administration and community outreach and engagement, along with ushering forward the development of the Metro Transit Police Department’s Homeless Action Team (HAT).  

Prior to joining Metro Transit, she served in the Ramsey County Public Defender's Office and the Minnesota State Fair Police Department, holding an array of positions, including the department’s Public Information Officer.  

Blakey has an undergraduate degree in child psychology and criminology from the University of Minnesota, a post bachelor's degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Master of Science in forensic science with an emphasis on criminal investigation from National University.  

She is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command #484 and has earned advanced certifications from the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA), and Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (MN BCA). 

Lynnaia Jacobsen, Neighborhood Safety Community Council Manager

Jacobsen is a native of Saint Paul, Minnesota where she grew up in the Frogtown-Midway neighborhood and is alumni of Saint Paul Central High School. Jacobsen comes to us with an extensive background in public safety administration serving as a 911 Emergency Dispatcher for both Washington and Dakota Counties, Chief’s Executive Assistant with Metro Transit Police Department, and Executive Aide to the Commissioner with Department of Public Safety. In her positions she participated in strategic planning, organizational structure, learning policy and inclusiveness, community conversations and engagement.

During her full-time employment Jacobsen served the Union Gospel Mission Board of Directors where she assisted as the keeper of board minutes. Here she learned extensively about Board operations, none profits; strengthening her knowledge in budget/funding, philanthropy, the unsheltered epidemic and what it means to be a humanitarian.

Today, Lynnaia Jacobsen is a Metro State graduate with BS degree that focuses on ethics and equal opportunity in politics and criminal justice. Her passion remains in public safety as she continues to pursue opportunities that will allow her to assist in creating healthy and safe spaces. This includes enforcing ethics within communities, our State Government and Law Enforcement, influencing their practices, policies and personnel orders. She inspires to make sure community are not just people we serve, but they are part of our governmental structure serving as actual participants and awarded equal opportunities in the positions they hold.

Natalie Kelley, Management Assistant

Kelley brings substantial office management, networking and communication skills to the City of St. Paul. She most recently worked in the City Attorney’s office, and is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to the broad scope of duties and wide range of community members she serves in this role. Her prior work as a legal secretary, real estate office manager, and coach of youth and young children rounds out her experience. She grew up in Saint Paul, attended Highland Sr. High School, and studied at Saint Paul College, Concordia University-Saint Paul, and Metropolitan State University. Her first outing as a newborn was to the Winter Carnival chili contest, and she hasn’t missed a Carnival since. She and her young daughter are frequent visitors to St. Paul’s parks, recreation and aquatic centers. She loves Saint Paul, enjoys working with young people, is known for her enthusiasm and resourcefulness, and adds streamlined efficiency and effectiveness to the Office of Neighborhood Safety.

Neighborhood Safety Community Council (NSCC)

Community members are invited to apply to join the Office of Neighborhood Safety Community Council (NSCC). As detailed in the city’s administrative code, this 15-member group will work with the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety to develop an annual strategic plan that identifies, recommends and prioritizes public safety initiatives, establishes areas of focus, and monitors justice and violence prevention metrics and indicators. This work will also include reviewing and reporting on the effectiveness of activities and initiatives undertaken by the Office of Neighborhood Safety.  

The NSCC will also make recommendations for grant-making activities related to enhancing neighborhood safety, including reviewing and evaluating funding proposals. The announcement of $4 million for grants reflects the resources the NSCC will work with the Office of Neighborhood Safety to allocate in support of neighborhood safety efforts across Saint Paul.

Apply for the Neighborhood Safety Community Council

The NSCC will meet at least four times per year, with additional meetings taking place as often as necessary. The council also may establish areas of focus and create a task force to support each area of focus. Task force members can include a combination of NSCC members as well as other community members who are not current appointees and will be selected by the continuing members. Members of the NSCC as well as members of task forces will receive a stipend of $50.00 per meeting.

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