“The Sheriff’s Office Shield network is a front-line strategy for protecting residents against public safety threats, both large and small,” Sheriff Rick Stanek said in a press release. “The ability to quickly and effectively share crime-trend information with our private-sector security partners gives us another prevention tool to ensure the highest level of safety and security for the residents of Hennepin County.”
The Mall of America, with 40 million visitors per year and 15,000 employees, is among the private-sector partners onboard with what has become a national network. The NYPD Shield has around 18,000 members in 6,800 organizations around the country and even outside the country.
The sheriff’s office worked for about a year to solidify adoption of the program and enhance private-sector relationships.
The program will be especially valuable for identifying the increasing threats against the Jewish community in the Twin Cities area. “The Jewish community deeply appreciates the resources, expertise and concern that local, state and federal law enforcement have committed to addressing the anti-Semitic incidents,” said Anthony Sussman of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
NYPD Shield was formed after 9/11 to give police a way to communicate with security officials in the private sector, and expanded nationally. Growing nationwide gives NYPD the ability to know threats on the outside and determine if there may be linkage and a simultaneous attack in New York.
Police also share information with members through conferences, online updates and alerts. They also offer classes, such as what churchgoers should do if a gunman shows up or what hotel workers can do if they suspect a bomb.
The dynamic of terrorism has changed, with attacks being conducted by lone attackers and such, meaning that small towns are now susceptible and more interested in a program like Shield.
