Cedric Alexander officially sworn in as first community safety commissioner in Minneapolis
Updated: 1:45 p.m.
The city of Minneapolis' first community safety commissioner officially stepped into that role on Monday morning.
Cedric Alexander was sworn in during a brief ceremony at City Hall, after his nomination was approved by the City Council last week. He'll oversee the city's police and fire departments, 911 call center, emergency management and violence prevention efforts.
While new to the city and the job, Alexander said he's already reaching out to law enforcement and the community.
"The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, can be one of the safest cities in the country. And we need, I need, your help to do that," he said.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Mayor Jacob Frey heralded the new post as a new day for the city.
“Today marks a defining step in pushing for a transformation and change in how we deliver service in the city of Minneapolis, in terms of how we approach safety in our city," Frey said.
After the ceremony, Alexander answered questions from reporters in City Hall, and said he had a message for people in Minneapolis and beyond, as concerns about public safety have grown in the wake of crimes such as a fatal shooting on a light rail platform downtown last week.
"It certainly is going to be an opportunity to uplift the community at a time when people — you hear so often, particularly downtown — feel a sense of fear. And we don't want people to feel that way," Alexander said as he stepped in to the new role. "I will say this... We want people to come back into this city. Don't be frightened about nothing. Come back into this city, be part of this city. This is the heartthrob of this city, of this state, and the heartthrob of this country. I think it is imperative for all of us not to feel frightened, not to feel afraid."
Alexander acknowledged that the Minneapolis Police Department in particular has many challenges and critics in the wake of the killing of George Floyd more than two years ago. But he said the department still plays a critical role in holding wrongdoers accountable and making the city a welcoming place.
The department is currently being led by an interim chief. Alexander said Monday that he hopes to have a permanent police chief named by the end of October.