Author: Stuart Sudak

Body-worn camera policy will guide EP police officers Eden Prairie police officers could soon be outfitted with body-worn cameras. They will join a growing list of camera-equipped Minnesota officers, including those in departments serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Chaska, Edina, and Minnetonka. A relatively new addition to the law-enforcement toolkit, body-worn cameras document encounters between police and the public from an officers’ point-of-view. Nationwide, law enforcement officials echo in news reports the benefits of the video and audio recordings: improved criminal investigations and enhanced police transparency and accountability. In those stories, building public trust is a common theme. Eden Prairie…

Residents can share their input on the Eden Prairie Police Department’s draft body-worn camera policy by Sunday, February 21, 2021. (View the draft here: Eden Prairie Police Department Body-Worn Camera Policy.) Comments will be shared as part of the department’s presentation on the proposed policy to the Eden Prairie City Council, most likely at a March meeting. Police say that body-worn cameras, used in conjunction with in-squad camera systems, “significantly expands the ability to capture video and sound from police interactions.” Police say in-squad cameras are an excellent tool for collecting evidence, documenting encounters, and providing enhanced transparency and accountability.

EP Housing and Community Services provide bountiful resources for residents. You’ve probably strolled many times above the offices of Eden Prairie’s Housing and Community Services Division and didn’t even know it. That’s because the office is in the basement of Eden Prairie Center, tucked underneath center court. It’s reachable by stairs or elevator from the mall’s first level near Von Maur. This modest city outpost off the beaten track since 2004 from the bustle of the mall belies its supportive reach. From here, the four-person staff works on affordable housing initiatives and providing assistance, information, and referrals to the community,…

Albrecht uses mantras to stay motivated both on and off his bicycle Greg Albrecht pushes the limits of his body one thoughtful step at a time. The longtime Eden Prairie marathoner and triathlete motivates himself using positive thoughts to grind out mile after mile. One of his favorite “mantras” repeats these words: “Stay focused, stay relaxed.” He says this simple yet effective intonation can be used in any challenging predicament, whether running 26.2 miles or grappling with the uncertainty of the Coronavirus pandemic. “It helps stay in the moment and focus on what your goal is right now,” he said.…

 Brad Aho moved to Eden Prairie in 1991. But, it took 14 years before he discovered — as a new City Council member — the breadth of his fellow residents’ generosity. “I didn’t know how committed the people of Eden Prairie were to the community in donating their time, talent and money to doing all these wonderful things,” Aho said. “There’s hardly a council meeting that goes by without the city accepting some donation.” After 16 years on the council, Aho, 61, officially finishes his fourth term at the end of December. The electrical engineer/small business owner recently reflected on…