Report: Minneapolis backup 911 center burned in Third Precinct fire, interference with emergency communication

An internal report by the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, obtained by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, explains how Minneapolis lost its 911 backup center to fire at the Third Precinct in late May.

“The MECC backup 911 center was located within the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct building," said the report. “The 911 center was destroyed when the decision was made by city leaders to abandon that building.”

The MESB report also stated rioters had stolen emergency communication radios out of the Third Precinct building and used those radios to confuse and interfere with communication between police, fire and EMS.

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“Rioters stole the radios when the decision [was made] to abandon the Third Precinct building,” according to the report. “The stolen radios were then used by rioters to monitor and interfere with legitimate emergency response operations and possibly avoid arrest.”

Minneapolis City Council member, Linea Palmisano, sits on the Public Safety Committee and read the MESB report after her colleague, City Council member Andrew Johnson, and MESB member, declined comment.

“There are things in the report that are concerning, like the backup 911 center and stolen radios,” said Palmisano. “But, I also see the report as a great opportunity to learn from these things and make them better."