Local leaders have heard the concerns from community members about the environment surrounding University and Snelling avenues in St. Paul, according to Metro Transit Interim Police Chief Joe Dotseth.

People are concerned for their safety in riding public transit, they’re worried about the impact on local businesses and care about the health and well-being of individuals, he said.

The ongoing conversations are a part of what pushed multiple departments to band together and get involved. What really sparked the call to action, however, is a renewed commitment to policing as a service, he said.

“It’s about doing something right now,” Dotseth said.

Safe and Strong summer

The departments’ Safe and Strong initiative created partnerships between law enforcement, service providers and prosecutors.

Officers, Metro Transit TRIP agents and its Homeless Action Team increased their presence along University Avenue in St. Paul and on Green Line light-rail cars in May. The goal of the initiative is to take a proactive approach to creating safer, more connected communities, according to Dotseth.

Metro Transit officers assisted St. Paul police in responding to a fatal shooting early Thursday outside the Midway Saloon on University Avenue. It was the city’s seventh homicide of 2025, compared to about 15 at this time last year.

Newer tactics like the Homeless Action Team and older strategies like police beats are implemented to monitor neighborhoods in an attempt to reduce crime, increase safety, provide resources to those experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health crises, and to serve the entire community.

The department documented a 13% decrease in serious crimes in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same time last year.

The department also reported a 74% increase in service calls compared to the same time last year and a 60% increase in crimes addressed due to proactive patrolling, Dotseth said.

Related Articles

St. Paul police arrest suspect in vandalism of storm sewer drains

Judge finds man mentally ill, not guilty of killing retired priest, 76, along I-94 in St. Paul

Burnsville man charged in death of man found unconscious in park

St. Paul bar bouncer charged in shooting death of patron

Lake Elmo mother remains in ICE custody despite release order

An increase in calls for service and crimes addressed shows that police are doing their job, Dotseth said. Transit police are on the scene, keeping their eyes on what’s happening in the neighborhoods they occupy, informing their department and addressing it head-on, he said.

The department also had a goal of hiring 10 officers over the summer and managed to hire seven, which Dotseth said was a highlight for the department.

“This is my 24th year in law enforcement and next month will be my 21st year with Metro Transit, and it is my opinion that Metro Transit police have never been stronger or more well-vetted,” Dotseth said at a Wednesday meeting of the Metropolitan Council.

‘Trying to help people’

The goal of increased policing is not to get people arrested or tell people that they need to leave the area, as long as they aren’t engaging in illegal activity or causing harm to others, Dotseth said. The goal is to increase visibility and service provision, because visibility encourages a safer, more connected community, he said.

“We’re out here trying to truly help people,” Dotseth said.

One of the clearest examples of this community connection is the Homeless Action Team, he said.

“People are so used to them being out here, it’s like this beacon of hope,” Dotseth said.

The Homeless Action Team, comprised of three officers, outreach workers and volunteers, some with lived experiences with homelessness, surveil St. Paul neighborhoods daily, working with those experiencing homelessness, mental health crises and substance abuse. The team, which began in 2018, provides resources like clothing, food and Narcan, and has helped provide more than 500 people with permanent housing, a number they plan to increase in the future.

“They (community members) know our team will go above and beyond for them,” officer Kat Kompelien said.

Officers also drive people to recovery programs if an individual expresses a desire to receive treatment for addiction.

Homelessness is not illegal, Kompelien said; criminal activity is. What the Homeless Action Team does is help people change their lives for the better and care for their neighbors, a spirit that former Metro Transit Lt. Beverly Rodriguez modeled so well, Kompelien said.

Rodriguez, a Woodbury resident, drowned in White Bear Lake in late June. She led the Homeless Action Team and was the heart of the mission, Kompelien said. She is remembered by many for her impactful contributions as an officer and her compassion and joy.

Providing a service to the community

Dotseth said the department is trying to align its staff and hiring practices with what they believe the community wants: respect, honesty and service. Those three principles have encouraged an approach that values hiring quality transit officers.

Related Articles

Downtown St. Paul’s Hotel Jewell destroyed by fire 75 years ago

Geothermal heating, cooling projects survive federal cuts, others in doubt

Thousands to report in for password change after St. Paul ransomware attack

St. Paul police arrest suspect in vandalism of storm sewer drains

Judge finds man mentally ill, not guilty of killing retired priest, 76, along I-94 in St. Paul

“Those qualities are what make a really great transit cop, and the officers that are doing well here have those qualities,” Dotseth said.

The Safe and Strong initiative was envisioned to last until the end of the summer, with the possibility of a continuation of efforts. The Met Council and Metro Transit Police Department will meet again at the end of the season to evaluate Safe and Strong and its future. Regardless of whether the initiative continues, Dotseth said he is excited and confident in this revived direction of policing that centers on a community-focused approach, involving key partners like the city of St. Paul, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Ramsey County Deputy Manager Gloria Reyes.

“Choi has been fantastic to work with, flagging these cases, as we’re doing enforcement, to try to get people the help that they truly need,” Dotseth said.