Community Engagement Specialists

Since the beginning of his tenure in 2016, St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell made it a priority to increase community engagement to unprecedented levels by establishing, improving and sustaining community relationships through trusted service with respect. In order to be truly inclusive and reach communities that have sometimes been underserved and over-policed, a new position was created out of necessity; the Community Engagement Specialist (CES).  CES are non-sworn members of the SPPD and provide a critical service by working as a liaison between the community and department.

The Community Engagement Specialist assists the department with breaking down barriers by understanding culture, ethnicity and language to gain better accesses to communities of color for better communication and engagement through formal and informal meetings, training, introductions and participation in cultural events.  Their primary roles include, but are not limited to:

  • Identifying where police and community connections are missing (or could be stronger) and engaging them in a sustainable and positive manner
  • Increasing the SPPD’s visibility at community gatherings and events
  • Facilitating honest and open interaction between the SPPD and our diverse communities
  • Promoting public trust by initiating positive community events
  • Responding to civilian inquiries and requests for assistance
  • Assisting in diversity recruitment efforts for the Saint Paul Police Department

There are currently four full-time CES who serve the community.  They speak several different languages, including Spanish, Hmong, Oromo and Somali and currently represent the following four major segments of the community:

  • Latino/Native American Community – Enrique “Cha Cho” Estrada
  • African American Community – Johnny Howard
  • Asian Community – Kaziah Josiah
  • East African Community – Warsame Shirwa

Enrique "Cha-Cho" Estrada - Latino/Native American Community

Chacho Estrada


Ofc. Tel: 651.266.8690
Cell: 612.434.5362
Email

Cha-Cho is a graduate of Cretin High School, born in Saint Paul and raised on the city’s Westside. He studied Psychology/Youth Development at Inver Hills and Law Enforcement/Community Crime Prevention at Metro State. Cha-Cho worked at The Boys & Girls Club for 20 years, serving as the director of Gang Prevention and Intervention programs. He was also director of the extended aftercare/gang tattoo removal initiative at Boys Totem Town. He moved on to work as the youth and community advocate at the Neighborhood House, and also served as the director of the Gang Reduction and Intervention Program (GRIP) for eleven years prior to joining the SPPD.

Johnny Howard Sr. - African American Community

Johnny


Ofc. Tel: 651.266.8693
Cell: 612.434.5445
Email

Johnny’s professional career has been dedicated to serving as a liaison and participant in civic engagement partnerships to improve our community quality of life and keep us safe. He has organized and built collaborations and partnerships between residents, cultural, religious and ethnic groups and government and public safety groups, to advance public policy and programs which subsequently are national models of community building. Some of his most successful work is spending over 16 years as founder and executive director of the nationally recognized Thomas-Dale Block Club Inc.; a citizen and volunteer group in the Frogtown neighborhood which is located within Ward 1 of the City of St. Paul.  

Warsame Shirwa - East African Community

Warsame Shirwa


Ofc. Tel: 651.266.8593
Cell: 612.434.0405
Email

Warsame was born in Mogadishu, Somalia and came to the United States as a political refugee fleeing the civil war in Somalia. He resided in San Diego prior to moving to Minneapolis. Warsame has a BA in Political Science from the Somali National University and has a three-year degree in Computer Science and Education from Kenya Polytechnic in Mombasa, Kenya. Warsame is a Somali language and culture expert.  With an extensive educational background in literacy, Warsame worked with The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) in Chicago. He has also trained with Allies for Justice at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He also has also a certificate for organizing and mobilizing communities; a six-month training course with the Organizing Apprentice Project-Minnesota Chapter.

Warsame has taught in school and library settings, in addition to instructing in law enforcement academies for over 20 years in the United States. He continues to be an advocate for teaching, emphasizing how education is a necessary tool for success. Warsame has multilingual skills speaking in five languages and reading and writing in four languages including Somali, English, Kiswahili, Amharic and basic Arabic. Warsame is married and has three children.

Kaziah Josiah - Asian Community

Ofc. Tel: 651.266.5949
Cell: 651.417.5824
Email

Kaziah was born in Thailand, and immigrated as a refugee to St. Paul, Minnesota in 2004.  She has a BA in Political Science and Economics from St. Olaf College.  Prior to joining SPPD, Kaziah worked as a Recovery and Psychiatric Care Coordinator at Amherst Wilder Foundation, serving many Southeast Asian clients.  Additionally, she also interned with the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM), following legislative bills that impact Minnesota's Asian and Pacific Islander communities.  She is currently a board member of Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) and The Urban Village.  She also helped implement Asian Youth Outreach program (fiscally sponsored by KOM) that worked with at-risk Karen and Karenni youth.  Kaziah speaks, Karen, Thai, and English.

Last Edited: July 19, 2022