The Minneapolis chief of police implored the city council to bring in help from the outside after a hemorrhaging police force has left the city reeling amid rising crime.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo asked city authorities to reinforce their dwindling numbers as violent crime escalates in the city, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

“Resources are hemorrhaging,” Arradondo said at a Tuesday meeting. “Our city is bleeding at this moment. I’m trying to do all I can to stop that bleeding.

Arradondo is asking for money to bring in 20 to 40 officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Transit Police to form joint enforcement teams. The city would reimburse the agencies for their officers’ salaries and benefits. While the details of the contracts are still being negotiated, Arradondo said he imagines the extra officers would be available to help answer 911 calls or work on special teams formed to help combat violence in hot spots.The extra officers have the same arrest and investigatory powers as Minneapolis police. They would still be subject to their home departments’ policies, and the other agencies would likely maintain liability for them, the chief said.

Some members of the city council pushed back against Arradondo’s pleas. Council Member Steve Fletcher said, “So, we’re going to take a thing that has not been working very well and has not been addressing carjackings, has not been addressing the rise in violent crime … and say if we just do 5% more of it, that will get us to a be... (Read more)