Mayor: Minneapolis Police Faced “Whack-a-Mole” Situation in July 4th Violence

(KNSI) — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the city’s police department was facing a “whack a mole” situation with lawlessness and reckless behavior, which plagued 4th of July celebrations that descended into chaos.

Frey took to social media denouncing the incidents after violent videos showed street racing, people hanging out of vehicles, and shooting fireworks at people, buildings, and other cars in downtown Minneapolis.

Via his Twitter account, Frey said, “The recklessness and callous disregard for residents in our city last night put a damper on a weekend that should otherwise be celebrated. This conduct should not be acceptable in any city – and let me be clear, it won’t be tolerated here. This is our city. We live here, we work here. We have families here, and our futures are here. We care about Minneapolis. We believe in this city, and we need to make sure we’re doing everything we possibly can to curb this type of violence. That means it’s on all of us – me as mayor, our police department, our 911 call center, our fire department. And it’s on all of us throughout [the] community. This is no small task. It has to be a comprehensive and collaborative approach where we’re all working together.”

Residents of the neighborhood who recorded the mayhem on their phones said police response times were unreasonable, and as soon as officers would clear the area, the violence would start back up again.

Minneapolis reported at least 12 shootings and one stabbing from Monday afternoon to early Tuesday. That includes at least seven people who were shot Monday night at Boom Island Park. Four of them were critically injured. Frey said the police department had 1,300 calls from 9:00 p.m. Monday to 4:00 a.m. Tuesday and only 80 officers on duty to handle it.

Frey says guns are coming into the city by the trunkful, and meaningful gun reform is needed. He also called on parents and friends of those causing problems saying parents need to know where their kids are and “you need to be setting them straight.”

A 23-year-old woman from Savage was arrested for suspicion of assaulting a police officer an obstruction, but no other arrests have been announced.

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