Community invited to Rosenmeier Forum “The State of Public Safety in Minnesota” 

The next Rosenmeier Forum, titled “The State of Public Safety in Minnesota” will be held at 7p.m. On Monday, Nov. 3 in the Chalberg Theatre, at Central Lakes College’s Brainerd campus. The event is free and open to the public.  

The speakers include: Liz Collin, multi-Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter; Bob Kroll, a highly decorated retired police lieutenant, and Booker T. Hodges, Chief of Police of Bloomington. Each speaker will address the issue of public safety from their perspective, followed by a roundtable discussion and questions from the audience. 

Steve Wenzel, Executive Director of the Gordon Rosenmeier Center for State and Local Government, said, “Crime and violence in our state today, including political violence, is a serious, compelling issue of concern and interest to all Minnesotans. The Rosenmeier Center is fortunate to present a forum of three excellent speakers, whose extensive backgrounds in law enforcement, public safety and media promises an opportunity for community members to understand the importance and need for order and justice in Minnesota.” 

More about the speakers: 

Liz Collin is a Minnesota native raised in Worthington and a multi-Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter and news anchor. She is the producer of The Fall of Minneapolis and Minnesota v We the People documentary films, and author of They’re Lying: The Media, the Left, and The Death of George Floyd. Her work has prompted important state laws. Yet perhaps most of all, Liz has been giving a voice to the truth—and helping others tell their stories—for more than 20 years. 

Bob Kroll is a highly decorated retired police lieutenant. He spent 32 years on the Minneapolis Police Department serving assignments on patrol, investigations, the SWAT team, and the union board. He also served 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military police officer 

Police Chief Booker Hodges has worked as a school resource officer, patrol deputy, narcotics detective, SWAT operator, patrol overnight watch commander, inspector, undersheriff, acting chief deputy, an assistant public safety commissioner and now chief of police. Prior to joining the Bloomington Police Department in April of 2022, he served with Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Prior Lake Police Department and the Ramsey and Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Hodges earned a doctorate degree in public administration. He serves as an adjunct professor at University of Northwestern in Saint Paul and has previously served as past president of the Northstar Chapter of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), as well as an elected National Parliamentarian for NOBLE.