Downtown Alliance announces new community prosecutor to strengthen downtown public safety
The Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District (SPDID) today announced that Adam Hinz will serve as community prosecutor, a new city position within the City of Saint Paul's City Attorney’s Office, created to serve as a point person for the City Attorney’s Office related to public safety and quality-of-life concerns in downtown Saint Paul through community engagement, data-driven strategies, and focused prosecution.
Hinz officially began the role in August and also serves as a senior attorney in the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office. As community prosecutor, Hinz will focus on misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses and work closely with downtown stakeholders, law enforcement, city departments, and community partners to address public safety concerns. He brings extensive experience in prosecution, advocacy, and criminal case management, having handled hundreds of cases from pretrial through appeal. He has also led efforts to improve legal processes and expand access to justice, including early resolution programs and diversion opportunities.
The community prosecutor role has been a priority for the SPDID for several years. The possibility of creating a position grew out of the SPDID’s 2023-24 expansion process, when a steering committee of existing board members and representatives from the self-imposed and self-managed fee district evaluated opportunities for the organization to strengthen its approach to public safety.
The steering committee ultimately identified a dedicated community prosecutor as a priority. The position was included in the SPDID’s expanded budget and operating plan, which was approved through the City’s public process in 2024. The role represents approximately 8% of the DID’s annual budget in 2025 and 2026 and is funded through fees collected via property taxes. The position was formally included in the City of Saint Paul’s 2026 adopted budget.
“The credit for making this position possible belongs to the downtown property taxpayers who voted to fund it in 2024 and Mayor Her, City Attorney Kao and Council President Rebecca Noecker for implementing this position,” said Joe Spencer, president of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance. “We’re grateful for their support and commitment to the safety and vitality of downtown Saint Paul. We look forward to working with Adam in his new role as community prosecutor.”
The community prosecutor will serve within the City Attorney’s Office Community Justice Unit (CJU) while maintaining a dedicated focus on downtown and exercising independent prosecutorial discretion consistent with applicable laws, ethical obligations and City policies. The position is intended to complement the work of law enforcement and other city and community partners by bringing a focused, community-oriented approach to prosecution and public safety issues affecting downtown.
“The creation of the community prosecutor role reflects the kind of innovative, collaborative approach we need to strengthen public safety in downtown Saint Paul,” said Mayor Kaohly Her. “By bringing focused prosecutorial resources together with law enforcement, city departments and community partners, we can respond more strategically to the issues that matter most to the people who live, work and spend time downtown.”
“As an early supporter of the community prosecutor concept, I’m glad to see this investment become a reality,” said Council President Rebecca Noecker. “Public safety is foundational to a thriving downtown, and our approach should be rooted in listening to the people who live, work, and spend time here, responding to what they are telling us, and bringing partners together to act on what we hear. I’m grateful to everyone who helped turn this community priority into action.”
About the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance
The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is a nonprofit organization that represents downtown businesses, nonprofits, government entities, residents and entrepreneurs, working to build a strong, vibrant downtown and create a positive experience for all who live, work, visit and invest in downtown. The Alliance also serves as the umbrella organization for the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District, which provides enhanced safety, cleanliness, and public realm services and programming in downtown’s core cultural and business areas, and the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation, a nonprofit focused on advancing real estate development and accelerating redevelopment downtown through public- and private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit downtownstpaul.com.
About the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District
The Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District (SPDID) is a 90-block special service district encompassing all of downtown Saint Paul, from Grand Casino Arena to CHS Field and from the Mississippi River to Interstate 94. The district includes both commercial and residential properties and is home to major employers; prominent artistic, cultural and entertainment venues; and many other restaurants, businesses and downtown destinations. The SPDID is a self-imposed and self-managed fee district to provide clean and safe services and public realm programming that supplement government services. The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance acts as an umbrella organization for the SPDID and contracts with the district to manage and implement its operations. To learn more, visit downtownstpaul.com/did.