City Attorney: ONS Director Built Something Real and Durable

Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) Director Brooke Blakey, the first to hold this title, is stepping down from her role October 17 after a three-year tenure that saw tremendous progress in crime prevention and safer outcomes. I am sad to see her leave our City Attorney's Office team, and Director Blakey leaves big shoes that will be hard to fill.

Director Blakey came to the City with a deep background in community work and law enforcement. Her leadership has been instrumental in building ONS to the successful team it is today-particularly Project PEACE, a group and community violence intervention program unique to Saint Paul, resulting in an astounding decrease in gun deaths in the City this year: only nine, compared to 20 this time last year. Shots fired are also down by over 30%. No one has been able to achieve these kind of results before the partnerships and programs created through ONS and Project PEACE.

From day one, Director Blakey focused on people. She recruited and mentored a strong, mission-driven team; centered survivors, families, and frontline partners; and made sure our strategies reflected the lived experience of those most affected by violence. Under her leadership, Project PEACE moved from concept to coordinated practice-linking prevention, intervention, and enforcement with the Saint Paul Police Department's Operation ASPIRE in a way that is both accountable and compassionate. Director Blakey also grew the Familiar Faces team, doing amazing work with our unsheltered neighbors. And while we know public safety is a whole-city approach, Saint Paul is seeing fewer families touched by gun violence because of the foundation she helped lay.

As City Attorney, I have been proud to partner with Director Blakey in this work from the beginning-on problem-solving, on tough nights, and on the everyday work that builds safety with legitimacy. She leads with integrity, steadiness, and heart, and she has elevated how we do this work together across teams, justice partners, and with our community.

ONS will continue to be a key part of the City Attorney's Office team. Rachel Holzemer will serve as Deputy Director responsible for ONS. Faith Lofton will continue her direct leadership of the group and community violence intervention work as the program administrator for Project PEACE. And Lynnaia Jacobsen will continue as Neighborhood Safety Community Council Manager.

I want to recognize Director Blakey for her outstanding dedication to our Community-First Public Safety framework, her colleagues, the families of Saint Paul, and everyone with whom she interacted. She stepped into this role with courage and purpose, and she leaves having built something real and durable.

Director Blakey, thank you for your service to Saint Paul, for believing that every life has value, and for building a team and a model that will keep serving our residents long after today. On behalf of the City, we wish you continued success and we commit to carrying this work forward.

Together we RISE!

Lyndsey Olson
Saint Paul City Attorney

Last Edited: October 24, 2025