(KNOX) – The Grand Forks Police Department held a town hall event on Wednesday where they shared what is being done to make the downtown area more safe.
Police Chief Jason Freedman says 911 calls for downtown service have decreased by 11 percent this year compared to last year. He says that is because of more officers being present downtown, resulting in 19 percent of more arrests and 13 percent of more citations.
Town Square has seen a 46 percent decrease in service calls than in 2025. Arrests in Town Square have dropped 46 percent and citations are down 73 percent.
There have been reports of incidents happening at Hugo’s Pure Market. Some people are apparently bothering the public, including Grand Forks Central High School students during lunchtime for money. Those who are causing problems in the store have been issued no trespass orders.
Flock cameras were also mentioned at the town hall. The cameras have come under a lot of scrutiny across the country over its privacy concerns.
Freedman says the department doesn’t use any Flock cameras, but there are apparently some in town.
Flockcameralocations.com tracks the devices nationwide, and it says there are at least seven. Four of them are apparently located around the Columbia Mall.
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