Faribault police film ‘historic’ video with Somali-American police to help bridge cultural gap

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 dense Somali-populated Cedar/Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Chief Andy Bohlen invited the officers to talk about cultural differences between new immigrants and other people in the 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 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; one 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 needs to be addressed as well.

He said that it’s normal for the Somali people to stand around on the street – what Americans might deem as loitering – because the culture is more oral and visiting face to face is the primary method of communication. But he added that it’s a problem when groups of people are blocking the sidewalk and business entrances, and Somalis should know or learn not to.

“Andy and I have been working for months to educate people on proper etiquette,” Marie McCarthy said, co-owner of the Sweet Spot. She said Bohlen is working to make everyone on the same page, and putting the video together is a “step in the right direction.”

{span}Dee Bjork, owner of the Crafty Maven is featured in the video as well as Sgt. Al Shuda, the Somali community liaison, Bohlen, Fire Chief Dustin Dienst, Asher Ali, and the two Minneapolis officers. The video will be aired on FCTV and will be given to the Somali community, although Asher Ali said the message goes to the whole community.{/span}

Besides addressing immediate community relations, the video also touched on what to expect when involved in an accident, traffic stop, or in the event of a fire or other type of emergency, and general information about winter parking rules and city ordinances, including yard or noise complaints.

Bohlen said the idea to create a video with the police officers came from an existing video that the MPD made over the summer titled “Adiga iyo Booliska Magaalada Minneapolis (You and the Minneapolis Police, Somali).”

Abdullahi and Ali are semi-celebrities in Minnesota. They have also worked with Toronto police on building Somali relations, and the need to have trust in law enforcement.

You can reach reporter Carrie Swiggum at 333-3128. Follow her on Twitter @FDNCarrie