About the Bloomington Police Department

As Clay Nord, long-time town board member and Bloomington's first police chief, said to the new Village Council in 1953, officers were needed to handle increases in "rush hour traffic on thoroughfares" and to "avert the possibility of severe crime epidemics." The first six months of that year, Minnesota Patrol, a private security firm, patrolled Bloomington as an auxiliary police force. Allegedly, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office had a one hour response time to calls for service from Bloomington.

The officers of the new department patrolled an area larger than St. Paul, always in two-man cars on the night shift. Officers provided 24 hour coverage, 7 days a week, and acted as bailiffs during court sessions which were held in the evening. Most of their work seemed to involve traffic violations.

Today, Bloomington has more than 85,000 residents and a visiting population that tops that number every single day. The Police Department now has an authorized strength of 116 sworn officers, 35 civilians, 2 animal wardens and an annual budget of $16 million.

Technology and communication play a major role in assisting the department in its mission. Officers use Mobile Digital Computers in squad cars. Through numerous computer systems, the department is linked to Hennepin County, the State of Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and other local governmental units. The department prides itself on its continuing commitment to training and technological improvements that allow staff to work more efficiently and make Bloomington a safe place to live, work and play.

Source:

ci.bloomington.mn.us

cityhall/dept/police/history

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