Community Engagement Specialists
Since the beginning of his tenure in 2016, St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell made it a priority to increase community engagement to unprecedented levels by establishing, improving and sustaining community relationships through trusted service with respect. In order to be truly inclusive and reach communities that have sometimes been underserved and over-policed, a new position was created out of necessity; the Community Engagement Specialist (CES). CES are non-sworn members of the SPPD and provide a critical service by working as a liaison between the community and department.
The Community Engagement Specialist assists the department with breaking down barriers by understanding culture, ethnicity and language to gain better accesses to communities of color for better communication and engagement through formal and informal meetings, training, introductions and participation in cultural events. Their primary roles include, but are not limited to:
- Identifying where police and community connections are missing (or could be stronger) and engaging them in a sustainable and positive manner
- Increasing the SPPD’s visibility at community gatherings and events
- Facilitating honest and open interaction between the SPPD and our diverse communities
- Promoting public trust by initiating positive community events
- Responding to civilian inquiries and requests for assistance
- Assisting in diversity recruitment efforts for the Saint Paul Police Department
There are currently three full-time CES who serve the community. They speak several different languages, including Spanish, Hmong, Oromo and Somali and currently represent the following four major segments of the community:
- Latino/Native American Community – Enrique “Cha Cho” Estrada
- African American Community – Johnny Howard
- Asian Community – Kaziah Josiah
- East African Community – Warsame Shirwa
Enrique "Cha-Cho" Estrada - Latino/Native American Community
Ofc. Tel: 651.266.8690
Cell: 612.434.5362
Email
Cha-Cho is a graduate of Cretin High School, born in Saint Paul and raised on the city’s Westside. He studied Psychology/Youth Development at Inver Hills and Law Enforcement/Community Crime Prevention at Metro State. Cha-Cho worked at The Boys & Girls Club for 20 years, serving as the director of Gang Prevention and Intervention programs. He was also director of the extended aftercare/gang tattoo removal initiative at Boys Totem Town. He moved on to work as the youth and community advocate at the Neighborhood House, and also served as the director of the Gang Reduction and Intervention Program (GRIP) for eleven years prior to joining the SPPD.
Warsame Shirwa - East African Community
Ofc. Tel: 651.266.8593
Cell: 612.434.0405
Email
Warsame was born in Mogadishu, Somalia and came to the United States as a political refugee fleeing the civil war in Somalia. He resided in San Diego prior to moving to Minneapolis. Warsame has a BA in Political Science from the Somali National University and has a three-year degree in Computer Science and Education from Kenya Polytechnic in Mombasa, Kenya. Warsame is a Somali language and culture expert. With an extensive educational background in literacy, Warsame worked with The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) in Chicago. He has also trained with Allies for Justice at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He also has also a certificate for organizing and mobilizing communities; a six-month training course with the Organizing Apprentice Project-Minnesota Chapter.
Warsame has taught in school and library settings, in addition to instructing in law enforcement academies for over 20 years in the United States. He continues to be an advocate for teaching, emphasizing how education is a necessary tool for success. Warsame has multilingual skills speaking in five languages and reading and writing in four languages including Somali, English, Kiswahili, Amharic and basic Arabic. Warsame is married and has three children.