Updated: October 1, 2024

We know that picking a destination to visit involves many factors including safety. And, as a large urban area, you may have questions about our city.

• The Minneapolis/St. Paul metro is the 16th largest metro area in the United States.
• Minneapolis, the biggest city in the state of Minnesota, has roughly 430,000 residents living within the city limits.
• More than 58,400 residents live downtown (an increase of 7,100 residents since 2020), and our post-pandemic downtown workforce includes roughly 130,000 workers.

Our downtown is active thanks to all our residents, workers and visitors.

Like any major city, we encourage everyone to be aware of their surroundings and belongings – and be prepared to enjoy the many amenities Minneapolis has to offer.

Is Minneapolis safe to visit?

Yes. Millions of people enjoy safe and memorable visits to Minneapolis and the surrounding area each year.

How will I be kept safe while visiting Minneapolis?

Our community works collaboratively – including city leadership, law enforcement and community organizations – to ensure the safety and well-being of residents, workers and visitors to Minneapolis.

• Law enforcement includes the fully funded Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), Metro Transit Police, Minneapolis Park Police, and the Hennepin County Sherriff’s Department. They work together, as needed, with a common goal of keeping our city safe.
• Our Downtown Improvement District (DID) Ambassadors are highly visible individuals who help visitors with directions and information, make suggestions on things to do and much more. They can be seen year-round throughout 120 blocks of downtown Minneapolis.
• Our DID also has a Safety Communications Center, which serves as a downtown safety information hub. Dispatch Ambassadors work 365 days a year, responding to pedestrian requests from Ambassadors on the street, communicating with outreach services for people in need, monitoring public area cameras and collaborating with private security

In addition, community and business leaders throughout the city work together on multiple initiatives to help ensure a safe environment for visitors and residents. Plus, more resources have been put towards addressing mental health and de-escalation such as:

• Mental Health Co-Responder Program
• Community Group Outreach and Intervention
• 911 Training on assessing and responding to mental health issues and situations
• De-escalation and restorative justice training

What visitor services are available downtown?

We have a unique asset in our Downtown Improvement District (DID) Ambassadors. These men and women help visitors with directions and information, make suggestions on things to do and much more. The Clean Ambassadors also focus on making downtown shine and Safe Ambassadors are on hand to keep an eye out for you and your surroundings. Just look for the tennis ball green shirts (summer) or blue jackets (winter). Ambassadors are on the streets - rain or shine - Monday-Saturday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center – located at 505 Nicollet Mall (on the ground floor of the CenterPoint Energy building) – is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet Minneapolis staff are available in-person, over the phone at 612-397-9278 or via email at info@minneapolis.org to answer questions from visitors, share visitor maps and help with suggestions about things to do in Minneapolis and the surrounding area.

Is public transportation safe to use in Minneapolis?

Two years after implementing a plan to improve conditions on transit, Metro Transit is seeing a decline in overall reported crimes and steadily increasing ridership. The Safety & Security Action Plan identifies 40+ action items, focused on three areas of work:

• Improving conditions on the system
• Training and supporting employees
• Engaging customers and partners

Nearly two dozen Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) Agents ride light rail vehicles to assist customers and monitor fare compliance between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week. The program will continue to expand with the addition of more TRIP Agents.

For safety concerns, who can I contact?

If someone’s safety is at risk and an immediate response from police, fire or medics is required, call 911. The city also provides services via 311 for non-emergency information. You can call, text, email (minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov) or download the 311 smartphone app (Apple, Google).

What are the security options at the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC)?

The MCC’s main-level Command Center is accessible and visible for guests and helps with creating a safe environment for events. The Command Center features cutting-edge camera surveillance system and is connected to over 60 different buildings through the Downtown Improvement District communications center, providing security personnel with access to multiple camera networks throughout downtown. MCC staff routinely undergo training in homeland security, suspicious activity, customer service and de-escalation.

Learn more on the MCC's Guest Services and Security Operations pages.

For more details around policing, police reform and other initiatives around community safety and violence prevention, please go here.