The Patrol Division functions as the most visible unit of the department, aspiring to serve the community in a competent and professional manner. Patrol officers are often the initial and perhaps the only representative of the Police Department in dealings with the public. Currently, the department employs 85 sworn officers to provide law enforcement services to the public around the clock, every day of the year.
Brooklyn Park utilizes the dispatch service of Hennepin County Sheriff's Radio Division. Citizens should call 911 when in need of police services. For general questions, please contact the Police Department's Administrative Office at 763-493-8222. Other areas that fall under the Patrol Division include the following:
Canine Unit
The Brooklyn Park Police Department currently has three patrol dogs in the canine unit. Two of the dogs are Belgian Malinois and one is a German Shepard. All three are imported from Europe or are first generation descendents from European imports. K-9 Falco started with the Department in June 2004. K-9 Dingo and K-9 Diesel started with the Department in June 2008. Dingo and Diesel are dual purpose dogs that are cross-trained in narcotics detection. The Department has its own training staff and conducts all of the canine training in-house. The primary duties of our patrol dogs are:
- To locate and/or apprehend criminals who would otherwise not be apprehended, or whose capture would be delayed.
- To deter the escape of criminal suspects.
- To perform the job of police officers more effectively and safer.
- To detect and locate illegal narcotics.
Over the past several years our patrol dogs and their handlers have located and apprehended criminal suspects wanted for crimes ranging from felony assault, 
robbery, burglary, and murder. Over 100 pounds of illegal narcotics and several vehicles have been seized as a result of our K-9 detector dogs. In addition to their regular police duties, our canine handlers and their patrol dogs have conducted public demonstrations to hundreds of residents and school children. If you would like a public demonstration for your youth group, community group, or school please contact the canine unit supervisor, Lt. Steve Pearson at 763-493-8232. We will do what we can to accommodate your request.
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Community Service Officers
The CSO Program provides an apprenticeship environment for college students enrolled in law enforcement studies. Since the introduction of the program, a number of the people who served as CSO's were successful in being appointed to police officer positions. CSO responsibilities include: the enforcement of parking, junk vehicles and animal ordinances, the writing of routine and animal related reports, performing errands for the City, transporting vehicles for service and providing traffic control assistance.
The Brooklyn Park Detention Center is located in the Brooklyn Park Police Department. This facility is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by five full-time detention officers. The facility can hold prisoners for 72 hours excluding Sundays and holidays. There are ten cells in the detention center for a capacity of 20 prisoners. The dayroom is available for prisoners after they have been in their cell for 24 hours.
The Brooklyn Park Police Department currently sponsors an Explorer Post which is recognized as one of the top Posts in the state. This program is designed for high school students who have an interest in pursuing the law enforcement field.
Who We Are
The Brooklyn Park Police Reserves is a volunteer body of citizens who assist the Police Department in a variety of public safety situations.
What We Do
Police Reservists serve the department in many capacities. For example, they may provide:
Who Can Join?
To qualify as a Police Reservist, you must:
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Live in Brooklyn Park or a nearby city and be at least 18 years old
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Possess a valid Minnesota drivers license and a good driving record
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Have a working telephone in your residence
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Be in good physical condition
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Provide proof of U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident Status
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Have a GED or High School Diploma
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Have no felony convictions
If you meet the above qualifications, we'd encourage you to apply. Below we list several ways you can do just that:
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Pick up, mail or drop off an application at 5400 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
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Call 763-493-8222 to request an application be mailed to you.
The purpose of the Safe Streets Unit is to reduce crime through the use of proactive law enforcement and problem solving techniques. The unit is staffed by experienced police officers and their activities are managed by a Police Sergeant. The Unit successfully accomplishes its crime reduction goals by collecting intelligence on current and developing crime areas within the city from citizens, City Departments and the Police Department’s Crime Analyst. Once an active or potential crime “hot spot” has been identified, Safe Streets Officers will aggressively work the area employing proactive policing methods to dramatically reduce or eliminate the threat of crime. The Unit has had great success in capturing numerous dangerous felons and in seizing a significant number of illegal firearms and drugs.
The Brooklyn Park Police Department has established a specialized tactical unit referred to as the SWAT (Special Weapons & Tactics) team. The SWAT Team has an authorized strength of 22 officers including a SWAT Commander, three entry team Sergeants, 14 entry team officers and 4 snipers. The two police canines are also assigned to the team. The officers on the SWAT Team receive additional training throughout the year including specialized weapons training, less lethal weapons, high risk warrant service, surveillance and counter surveillance.
The primary responsibilities of the SWAT team are:
- To utilize special tactics and equipment to resolve situations involving persons who may be armed and/or pose a threat to themselves or others.
- To execute high risk search and arrest warrants.
In addition to the 22 officers on the tactical team there are 9 additional officers designated as crisis negotiators. These officers receive specialized training in hostage negotiations, barricaded subject negotiations and suicide intervention techniques.
Do you want to be a police officer?
Do you have exceptional diversity skills, knowledge, and connections to help us serve our growing and diverse community? Brooklyn Park may be able to help you start your police career.
Cadet Program Hiring
The objective of the Police Cadet Program is to facilitate the entry of qualified candidates for police officer positions into the Police Department and to provide the best possible police service to our very diverse community through the recruitment of persons with exceptional diversity skills, knowledge, and connections. Police cadets are individuals the Police Department has conditionally committed to employ as peace officers as soon as they become qualified for such a position and that Department has an opening it is authorized to fill. The Department assists the cadet in preparing for the pending police officer position by providing a full school scholarship for the required pre-service education and by a part time, uniformed, paraprofessional position to orient the cadet to the Department’s mission, policies, procedures, equipment, and methods of providing law enforcement services. In return, the Cadet shares his/her exceptional diversity skills to aid the Department in communicating, resolving conflicts, and better serving a diverse group in the community. Due to the unique nature of this position, it is limited in term and covered by a special, signed agreement. If the cadet becomes unsuitable for promotion to police officer, the cadet will not be retained. Cadets perform an assortment of paraprofessional tasks similar to Community Service Officers, Detention Officers, and other uniformed, non-sworn positions, along with job shadowing, patrol ride-alongs, police training, and other police career preparation activity. Cadets do not have police powers until promoted to a police officer position.
What do Cadets Receive?
Full College Scholarship: Cadets receive a full scholarship to obtain the college courses necessary to qualify for a peace officer position, including all books, fees, uniforms and equipment. Cadets are expected to attend school full-time.
Desired Qualifications
We are particularly looking for individuals who can help us better serve our very diverse population. Priority will be given to candidates who have diversity skills/knowledge/connections applicable to police work in Brooklyn Park or who fluently speak, read and write a language used in Brooklyn Park in addition to English, including sign language. Translator certification is especially desired. No previous police experience is required.
Application Process
All applicants must complete a City of Brooklyn Park Cadet Application form. Applications may be downloaded from the city’s website at www.brooklynpark.org and are also available at the Customer Service Center in the lobby of City Hall, 5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, or by calling or emailing Rhonda Ambuehl at 763-493-8017; rhonda.ambuehl@brooklynpark.org.
When there is an opening, to participate in our selection process, please submit a Police Cadet Application before the application deadline. An application will be available to print on-line when a position is available. The selection process takes three to four months, and involves an application review, a written test, a cadet interview, a police interview, a thorough background investigation, a Chief’s interview, a medical exam, a psychological exam and a drug test.
If you wish to be sent an application for Police Cadet openings or get on our mailing list, please call (763-493-8308) or emailing Captain Craig Enevoldsen with your name and mailing address.
If You Are Already Pursuing a Police Officer Career
If you are already licensed or eligible to be licensed as a peace officer, or you will be licensed soon, check out our police officer hiring information. You are overqualified for a Cadet position.
If you are already attending a Professional Peace Officer Education (PPOE) program authorized by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board, you may apply for the Cadet Program if you have at least two semesters of the PPOE left to complete. The college scholarship only pays for courses taken after you become a cadet.
Contact Information:
Brooklyn Park Police Department
5400 85th Ave N
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
(763) 493-8222 (Office)
(763) 493-8393 (Fax)
bppolice@brooklynpark.org
