Public Safety Structure Comparison
At a glance
Based on human-uploaded captions, which may still contain errors in names and numbers.
- What: a presentation by Nick Barkley of the Council's legislative research staff (office name as captioned, "LRO"; verify), with a 19-page brief, comparing how Oakland, Baltimore, Seattle, New Orleans, Minneapolis and St. Paul structure and manage public safety, using public data as of October 19.
- Where it stands: received and filed on October 21 after questions. It was timed ahead of the Council's government-structure discussion the following week (see Government Structure Ordinance).
- Next: staff to follow up with Council Member Wonsley on Baltimore's codification language and with Council President Payne on whether Oakland's chief selection process is set by charter or ordinance.
Findings
- Minneapolis combines Fire, Police, 911 and Neighborhood Safety under the Office of Community Safety, with five departments reporting to a commissioner. St. Paul now uses four assistant mayors, a new structure this year.
- Oakland: a hybrid model with a city administrator; the police chief is nominated from a list from the Police Commission and answers to the administrator for operations, the Council for budget and policy, and the commission for oversight. Baltimore: a mayor-council form with deputy mayors, and a proposal introduced in September to codify the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, with a $16 million investment in the proposed budget plus state money. Seattle: a mayor-council form with a deputy mayor and a director of departments; the incoming mayor planned to consolidate deputy positions. New Orleans: a chief administrative officer, with deputy mayors who can double as department heads.
- Deputy or assistant mayor positions do not require Council confirmation. In most comparison cities one person oversees public safety rather than multiple positions, as in Minneapolis.
- Cities under consent decrees had markedly more police chief turnover; staff found too many variables to link structure to outcomes, and a study on Oakland suggested funding and leadership continuity mattered more than organizational design.
- Council Member Wonsley called the brief timely given the structure conversation, and Vice Chair Stevenson asked whether the titles were one position or departments (staff: generally one individual overseeing departments).
From the video (October 27, 2026)
A research report showing comparable cities have a leader directing comprehensive public safety systems was cited in the Government Structure Ordinance debate. See 2026-10-27 - Committee of the Whole.
Sources
- 2026-10-21 - Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee (video of the October 21, 2026 meeting)
- 2026-10-21 - Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee
- Minneapolis agenda portal: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov
Discussion time
About 16 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 - Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee | 16 |
Log
- 2026-10-21 - Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee - received and filed after a comparison of public safety structures in six cities.
2026-10-21 - Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee
Marked agenda: the Office of Community Safety restructure policy brief was received and filed.