Police: Strong Community Contributes to Eagan's Dropping Crime Rate

Despite a rapidly growing population and an increase in non-resident crime, Eagan's per capita crime rate has decreased during the past 25 years.

This decrease, according to Eagan Police Chief Jim McDonald, is due in part to the strong foundation of community established by the city's schools, businesses, religious institutions, employment opportunities and recreation facilities.

Road and developmental expansions in the 1980s established a pattern of non-resident crime in Eagan, said Patrol Sergeant Linda Myhre. The construction of Interstate 35, Interstate 494 and Cedar Avenue, and development projects such as the Mall of America, were the catalysts for the de-localization of Eagan crime, according to Myhre.

During this period, the city also experienced massive population growth, increasing from 30,000 residents in 1985 to 57,000 in 1995, according to documents provided by the police department. Eagan's population currently stands at more than 64,000.

Despite the massive influx of residents, the Eagan we know today is safer than the Eagan of 25 years ago, according to data provided by the police department. Since the mid-1980s, the number of violent crimes committed annually has increased overall, but not at the same rate as the growing population.

In some instances, the number of violent crimes has even gone down.

In 1986, the city’s population was 43,000. That year, 278 individuals were arrested for burglary. By 2009, Eagan had grown to 65,847, but the number of burglary arrests decreased to 219.

While some statistics, including the city's robbery rate, have increased over time, Eagan’s crime rates are relatively low when compared to cities of similar size.

In 2010, Eagan’s violent crime rate was 2,615, according to the annual Uniform Crime Report released by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Burnsville’s rate was 2,579, while Brooklyn Park had a rate of 4,507. Although Lakeville had a crime rate of 1,531, significantly lower than Eagan’s, Bloomington’s rate was 4,090.

McDonald believes Eagan’s low crime rate stems from its status as an active, engaged community.

“I really attribute it to community engagement, recreational opportunities, the business climate and the school systems,” McDonald said. “And a responsive police department.”

But Eagan’s local institutions may not be the only factor reducing crime in the city.

Eagan is also home to citizen engagement programs, such as the Eagan Citizens Crime Prevention Association. The crime prevention association was founded in 1985 to help fund rewards for information regarding criminal activity.

The volunteer nonprofit organization consists of area residents and business representatives who host an annual golf tournament to benefit the department. In the past four years, the group has almost doubled in size, from nine members in 2008 to 15 in 2012.

The tournament typically raises $10,000 to $15,000. These funds cover police department expenses such as a new K-9 for the force and department reward money.

But the ECCPA is more than a fundraising organization.

"The police can’t be everywhere," said Manalee Johnson, president of the ECCPA. "The citizens are really the eyes and ears for the police department."

The EPD also offers residents the opportunity to understand the daily life of a police officer through the Citizen’s Academy Program.

The eight-week course includes educational presentations, such as K-9 unit, Taser and drunk driving demonstrations, as well as a pursuit simulation.

Citizen outreach programs are having an impact at the county level as well.

Juvenile crimes in Dakota County have decreased every year for the past decade—which is the result of strong prevention and outreach programs among youth, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said.

Youth initiatives in Dakota County include the Youth Detention Alternatives program, truancy prevention and intervention, peer courts and youth accoutability programs.

The county’s juvenile crime prevention programs are among several countywide community outreach endeavors, including the East Metro Crime Prevention Coalition, the Dakota County Drug Task Force and the Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinators.

“The citizens are part of this process too,” Backstrom said.