Crisis moments create opportunity. Problems and crisis ignite our greatest creativity and thought leadership as it forces us to focus on things outside the norm. Sam Cawthorn
John Harrington will tell anyone what an honor it was to be appointed Commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) by Governor Tim Walz in 2019.
In this unprecedented year of 2020 . . . one that has shaken our world to its core with uncertainty still looming . . . he wears the role of Minnesota’s chief law enforcement officer and commands a portfolio of responsibility that is much, much more. COVID-19 is top of mind for the Commissioner. And so is unrest in Twin Cities that made world news after millions witnessed the shocking murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“We are in a quandary,” Harrington said in a recent Zoom interview for the Conversations with Al McFarlane Town Hall series.
“With the deadly menace of COVID-19, if our citizens don’t act, it could be consequential to their health. Yet, there is a lot of hesitation and skepticism. But here’s the reality. 32,000 Black folks in Minnesota, a disproportionate number, have had COVID19. 45 to 50% of the homeless are Blacks. Many of the infected were front line workers in low-paying jobs, even in health and nursing home facilities,” the Commissioner said.
“If one lives in public housing, how can social distancing happen? The apartments have thin walls and narrow hallways. People are pretty much stacked up on top of each other. At least 50% of the residents are Black. How and where do we quarantine the people who test positive? How do we quarantine those who are homeless? Catholic Charities has been diligently working to find hotels for those who are affected. We’ve even hired folks to screen those coming in and out of the housing units to try and minimize traffic and crowds,” he said..
However, Harrington says, the unique challenges of the day create an opportunity for transformation. “This is a time where truth will lead to sustainable action and solutions. Our children need caring adults, preferably their family, to guide and nurture them and to ultimately give them hope. The vaccine brings hope in preserving health and life. But until it arrives, we still must stay the course and follow the CDC health protocols,” he said. “We must also embrace research and follow the science,” he said.
Harrington also addressed the spike in crime. “In some cases,” he said, “culturally based prevention and intervention measures can help curb gang violence and vandalism. We’ve got to get guns off the street. We’ve got to give kids places to be that are safe, productive, and rewarding.”
Harrington says that a lot of the crime is tied into children not being in school and some not having access to broadband in order to be able to complete daily on-line assignments. “Some parents have to work and cannot assist in monitoring their child’s academic needs,” he said. “They are idle and need to gain the skills that will help prepare them to compete in the job market once it is safe to do so. It was reported that in one Minnesota school district, 50% of the seniors would not graduate, and of the 50%, 80% were African American. Many children feel there’s no place for them and that they are surplus. Overdoses among teens have risen 30%.”
Harrington said the pandemic affects teachers too. “They have frustrations in trying to reach out to their students on-line, making some kind of connection with what they are supposed to be learning. They too have families and worry about the unknown and what lies ahead. Somehow, they too must be convinced to be immunized. Then it becomes a matter of public safety. We need young people to step into leadership roles. Maybe the good ole boys might consider mentoring them and then allowing them to take the reins,” he said.
Looking specifically at the spike in crime, Harrington said, “In Hennepin County, car jackings were up 250%.” “If you heard a helicopter hovering over South Minneapolis recently, that was the state police.”.
Public Safety consists of 14 departments including Homeland Security, the Emergency Management Department, and the Motor Vehicle Services. DPS’s service communities work closely with the Department of Health and Human Services in coordinating efforts to make sure front-line workers have enough masks and gloves and that hospitals have the respirators they need; whether there are enough refrigerators in the right places when the vaccines arrive; and vital security . . . the transporting of vaccines from one location to another – valuable cargo that could save lots of lives. These procedures are activated by (SEOP) Minnesota’s State Emergency Operation Center. SEOP is a hub for state agencies and their partners supporting local governments and coordinating response efforts. As Minnesota’s Chief law enforcement officer, there are also ‘law and order’ issues to address, many stemming from the devastating impact of COVID19, especially on the poor and ‘people of color’ communities.
DPS also drives state efforts in addressing the disparities that challenge vulnerable and marginalized populations brought to light by COVID19 and COVID1619 (systemic racism since the beginnings of slavery), especially in quality health care accessibility and affordability, criminal justice, small business resources, homelessness, and educational and technological training opportunities.
The department’s Office of Justice Program put out a call for proposals to hundreds of community organizations with the expertise and commitment to do the work. It was imperative that Black and Brown ground navigators be in position to communicate to their diverse and underserved neighborhoods culturally framed factual information that could save lives. The program distributed $7 million of state grant money to recipient agencies who are now working to get the word out about the virus and offer resource contacts who can assist in a variety of ways.
Harrington said an important role of community partners is to facilitate awareness about the benefit of vaccines now being introduced nationwide. To slow the pandemic and eventually eradicate it, each of us has to consider the consequence of not being vaccinated and how that decision might adversely affect others and especially the ones closest to them.
Prior to his current appointment as Commissioner of the MN Department of Public Safety, John Harrington served as Chief of Police in St. Paul and Chief of the Metro Transit Police in Minneapolis overseeing significant growth in department diversity and developing successful programs reducing gang and domestic violence. He served one term in the Minnesota Senate representing District 67 in St. Paul and Ramsey County.
