On October 5, 2026, the City of Edina held a Community Conversation on public safety at City Hall, with City leaders, the Edina Police Department, and regional partners. Residents told us they want to feel safe in parks, schools, and other shared spaces again, and to see visible action and clear information from the City.

Attended in person	200+
Watching the livestream at its peak	More than 10,000
Spoke at the meeting	25
Written comments (in person and online)	26

What we heard

Four themes came up again and again:

Safe parks, schools, and shared spaces. Many residents described changing their routines. Some avoid certain parks, keep children closer to home, or no longer go out alone at night. Long-time residents near recent incident sites said they felt unsafe for the first time.

Visible enforcement and accountability. Residents asked for more visible patrols, enforcement of existing laws, and consequences for repeat offenders. Many expressed support for the Edina Police Department.

Youth, family, and school prevention. Residents pointed to the role of families and schools, earlier attention to warning signs, and positive opportunities for young people, such as youth programs, sports, and jobs.

Clear, timely communication. Residents asked for timely alerts, accurate information about incidents, and regular updates on what the City is doing and whether it is working.

What it adds up to

Across the comments, residents are asking for three things:

1. To feel safe in shared spaces again. Parks, schools, and neighborhoods are where people felt the impact most.
2. To see that something is being done. Residents want visible, credible action and evidence that it is working.
3. To hear from the City clearly and quickly. Timely, honest information builds confidence, and silence erodes it.

How the City is responding

The City’s response has three parts: enforcement, policy, and engagement.

Area	What the City is doing
Enforcement	The Edina Police Department is actively investigating recent incidents and has increased its presence in the community, including in parks.
Policy	The City is working with Hennepin County and regional partners on approaches to charging, prosecution, and prevention, and on its legislative priorities.
Engagement	The City has answered more than 60 resident questions at EdinaMN.gov/Response, shares regular public updates through the Friday Report and City Council meetings.

Feedback outside the City’s authority

Some comments raised topics that other agencies are responsible for.

Topic	Responsible agency
Charging, prosecution, and plea decisions	Hennepin County Attorney’s Office
Sentencing	The courts
School safety and discipline	Edina Public Schools
Immigration	The federal government
Public assistance programs	State and federal agencies

About this feedback

• This is feedback from the people who chose to share it, not a survey of all Edina residents.
• Many comments raised more than one theme, so the counts add up to more than 26.
• Comments are summarized in neutral language. Summaries do not confirm claims that have not been verified.
• Remarks made by speakers at the meeting are not included in the counts. The meeting recording is available at EdinaMN.gov/meetings.

What’s next

• Keep sharing your experiences, ideas, and questions at BetterTogetherEdina.org/public-safety.
• Answers to questions are posted at EdinaMN.gov/Response.
• The City will continue to share regular updates on its public safety work.