The number of citywide stops made by Minneapolis police decreased by about 22,000 in the past year, compared to the first six months of last year, according to city data.

Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau told the Star Tribune that the falling numbers reflect the department's shrinking staff and a push for police to partake in activities like community engagement instead of making stops.

Violent crime, burglaries and robberies in South Minneapolis have risen as the number of police stops dropped, and community organizations in the Longfellow and Powderhorn neighborhoods have expressed their concerns, the Star Tribune reported.

Harteau said she will hire both new and experienced officers to increase the force's current staff of 784 officers to 860 by the end of the year, according to the Star Tribune.

Officers aren't making as many stops because of the smaller police force, said police union president Lt. John Delmonico to the Star Tribune.