Faribault police film 'historic' video with Somali-American police to help bridge cultural gap - Faribault MN: News
Two Minneapolis police officers came down to Faribault Thursday to film a dual-language video addressing Somali-American community relations, public safety concerns and quality of life issues in Faribault.
Officers Mohamed Abdullahi and Abdiwahab Ali – the first Somali officers in the state — patrol the densely Somali-populated Cedar/Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Chief Andy Bohlen invited the officers to talk about cultural differences between new immigrants and others in Faribault, Ali said.
“The police always want to give the message that the police are impartial,” Ali said. He stressed the importance of the community cooperating with the police and taking pride and ownership in where they live.
Asher Ali, director of the Faribault Diversity Coalition, said that the video is “historic” and a “big opportunity for Somalis” to see the police helping the community come together and build that cultural bridge.
Bohlen said there’s two parts to having a good relationship; first is to understand each other, and second is to work together to report crime.
Asher seconded having a good relationship with police, and he said that Somalis in town feel safe. However, he added that educating people about cultural differences, especially between downtown businesses and the concentration of Somali-American residents who live around them, or above them, needs to be addressed as well.
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