The Gist: Residents in Duluth will soon see a new layer of community safety and service: Public Safety Ambassadors. These civilians will be trained to manage non-emergency scenarios, taking some burdens off sworn officers, according to the Duluth Police Department.
The Details: The Duluth City Council-approved ambassadors will handle duties like addressing stalled vehicles, directing traffic, and assisting with lost items. This move isn’t about replacing sworn officers; it’s about enhancing the community policing experience. Marietta’s successful ambassador program served as inspiration for this innovation.
By The Numbers:
- 14: Ambassadors serving in Marietta since the program’s inception in 2017, as reported by the Duluth Police Department.
- 2: Public Safety Ambassadors that Duluth aims to recruit.
In Context: Following in Marietta’s footsteps, where the ambassador program has been a resounding success, Duluth is now looking to reshape community policing to be more inclusive and accessible.
TOO MANY ADS? GO AD-FREE
Did You Know?: The ads you see on this site help pay for our website and our work. However, we know some of our readers would rather pay and not see ads. For those users we offer a paid newsletter that contains our articles with no ads.
What You Get: A daily email digest of our articles in full-text with no ads.
Why It Matters: This initiative is more than task distribution. It’s about ensuring the right personnel handle the right challenges, optimizing community safety’s overall efficiency and responsiveness.
How You Can Help: If you’re passionate about community service and public safety, Duluth invites you to join this pioneering effort. Opportunities are listed at www.duluthpd.com.
What’s Next?: Once recruited, ambassadors can expect comprehensive training, equipping them for their roles. Any questions? Corporal Ted Sadowski has answers at Ambassadors@DuluthPD.com.
