2025 Blaine Police Department Annual Report

CITY OF BLAINE

POLICE DEPARTMENT

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

CORE VALUES

Integrity

Respect

Professionalism

MISSION

As proud members of our community, we, the members of the Blaine Police Department, strive to enhance the quality of life in Blaine by serving with integrity, respect, and professionalism.

MESSAGE FROM CHIEF PODANY

I am proud to present your 2025 Blaine Police Department Annual Report. As our City surpasses 75,000 residents and prepares for major milestones like the development of our new entertainment district and critical improvements to Highway 65 our department is working diligently to stay ahead of these changes. We are incredibly fortunate to serve such a vibrant community, and we remain guided by our core values of integrity, respect, and professionalism in every interaction we have with you.

The safety of our City is a collective effort, and I am grateful for the strong partnerships we share with our residents, business owners, and elected officials. This year, we welcomed our new City Manager, Erik Thorvig, whose fresh perspective adds to the incredible support we receive from municipal leadership. While technology continues to transform how we operate, the heart of our department remains our people. The men and women of the Blaine Police Department are compassionate, highly competent professionals dedicated to being there for you, whether it’s for a simple question or during your darkest hour.

Our commitment to your safety is reflected in this year’s statistics. I am pleased to share that Part 1 crimes our most serious incidents decreased by approximately 17 percent in 2025. This continues a remarkable long-term trend, dropping from a high of over 2,000 crimes in 2010 to just 900 this past year. While we saw a slight uptick in Part 2 offenses like simple assaults and disorderly conduct, these numbers remain well below the peaks we saw a few years ago. We continue to refine our services to meet these challenges, focusing on mental health support, victim services, and community outreach to ensure we are providing the most effective, well-rounded care possible.

As you look through this report, you will notice our first "facelift" in over 30 years. On January 1, we officially updated our agency badge and patch to better reflect the modern identity of both our City and our department. While our look has changed, our mission has not. We are constantly researching new technologies to keep Blaine one of the safest communities in the region, but our primary goal will always be providing compassionate service to you. Thank you for your continued trust and for being our partners in making Blaine a truly great place to live, work and grow.

Brian Podany Chief of Police

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Captain Sergeants (8)

Patrol Officers (53) Includes: K9 Unit

Traffic/DWI Unit

Retail Unit

Drone Unit

Bike Patrol Honor Guard

Community Service Officers (7)

Police Cadets (19)

Reserves Unit (11)

(9)

(4)

Support Services/ Records (4)

Evidence/Property Room (3)

Community Outreach (2)

(2)

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Department Operations

Deputy Chief Joe Gerhard oversees the day-to-day operations of the police department. This includes policy management and budget. In 2025, changes were made to the organizational structure of the department to balance out staffing and operational responsibilities across the four divisions. In turn, the emergency management division was renamed to operations, and the special operations division was renamed to investigations. The changes in name were to align with the new responsibilities of the divisions. Also, a new non-sworn part time desk officer position was added and filled by former retired officer Gordon Fiske. This new position processes gun permit requests and liquor and massage license background checks.

Budget

The operating budget for safety services was $21,765,050. There was an estimated budget savings of eight percent. This was largely due to vacancies in police officer positions.

Policy Management

With the introduction of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (MNLEAP) through the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) in 2025, the police department started the accreditation process. As part of this process, a contract was signed by LETAC’s Policy360 to provide policy management that meets MNLEAP standards. The accreditation process is expected to take up to 18 months for full implementation. Accreditation will help ensure the best professional standards by conducting an internal review of operations and practices. This will also strengthen community support while reducing legal liability.

Joe Gerhard Deputy Chief

77,523 Policing Population

4,633 Citations Issued

430 Shoplifting

276 Fraud Offenses

53,905 Calls For Service

939 Medicals

46 Burglaries

170 Assault Offenses

1,352 Total Arrests

1,156

Total Accidents

8 Robberies

1 Homicide

CRIME STATISTICS

Part 1 Crimes

Part 2 Crimes

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

The administrative services division serves as the backbone of department operations, led by Captain Zach Johnson. He was promoted to the position in March and is responsible for managing department training, the support services/records unit, evidence/property room, school resource officers, community outreach, and the employee wellness program.

Administrative Services Sergeant Joe Matzke manages critical functions including school resource officer (SRO) coordination, personnel onboarding, and comprehensive department training, including the field training program for new officers.

Training Unit

The training unit ensures all officers remain in full compliance with the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (MN POST) regulations. While officers are required to complete 48 hours of continuing education every three years, including 16 hours of legislatively mandated topics like Crisis Intervention, Implicit Bias, and Conflict Management, most officers consistently exceed these minimums to stay at the forefront of modern policing.

Field Training Officer Program (FTO)

As the field training coordinator, Sergeant Matzke meticulously tracks the development of new recruits, ensuring every trainee receives the specialized mentorship required for a successful career in public safety.

The field training program begins with a threeweek in-house academy, followed by a demanding field-based program. Trainees complete sixty 12hour shifts across four distinct phases, assuming greater responsibility as they progress through the program. In 2025, the department welcomed six new recruits and expanded its mentor team by adding six field training officers (FTOs), bringing the total to 11. To ensure consistent evaluation, the department utilizes PowerFTO software, which enhances communication and identifies specific developmental needs, preparing our newest officers to serve the community with confidence and integrity.

At our dedicated training facility, the department conducts rigorous instruction in use-of-force, firearms, and de-escalation. Utilizing scenariobased training that replicates real-world stress, officers sharpen their practical and decisionmaking skills in simunitions, Taser, and mobile field force operations.

Support Services

RecordsUnit

The records unit operates under the leadership of Administrative Services Coordinator Brooke Jacobson. The team, comprised of one lead technician and two records technicians, serves as a vital hub for the department.

This dedicated four-member team provides essential support services to department personnel, community agencies, and the general public. By leveraging the latest technology, they maintain an efficient workflow, seamlessly moving documents and reports through various digital systems.

The five-year trend for incident reports processed is illustrated below. Notably, there was a significant increase in reports processed compared to the previous year.

EvidenceUnit

Under the supervision of Administrative Services Coordinator Brooke Jacobson, the evidence unit is responsible for the intake and preservation of the chain of custody for all physical and digital evidence. In addition to evidence management, the unit facilitates critical digital data requests. This past year, the department processed 2,025 new items, successfully disposed of 2,955, and returned 200 items to their rightful owners. Digital demands continued to grow, with the unit fulfilling 110 public data requests and 1,646 digital media discovery requests, a slight increase over the previous year.

2,025

NEW ITEMS PROCESSED

2,955 ITEMS DISPOSED OF

200 ITEMS RETURNED TO OWNER

110 PUBLIC DATA REQUESTS

1,646 DIGITAL MEDIA DISCOVERY REQUESTS

School Resource Officers (SROs)

School resource officers (SROs) play a vital role in fostering a safe and supportive learning environment. Their responsibilities extend beyond maintaining campus safety and preventing crime; they also serve as educators, mentors, and key collaborators with school staff and administrators to support student success.

In 2025, SROs were stationed across the following campuses:

Blaine High School: Officer Alex Arnsdorf

Centennial High School: Officer Jackie Wagner

Roosevelt Middle School: Officer Mark Allen

Westwood Intermediate and Middle School: Officers Trent Bachman and Justin Pohlman (serving the spring and fall terms, respectively)

Wellness Program

Police Officer Wellness by Enhancing Resiliency (P.O.W.E.R.) Program

The police department is proud to partner with Marie Ridgeway and Associates since 2019 for our wellness program services. It is extremely important to the mission of the department that the wellbeing of every staff member is supported through having access to mental wellness professionals any time it is needed for any reason.

Mental health professionals from Marie Ridgeway and Associates conduct yearly checkins for all staff, critical incident debriefings for officers, new officer healthy family presentations, and ongoing mental health support and information for all staff members. All meetings are kept confidential.

Community Outreach

The community outreach team, led by Coordinator Emily Krech and Officer Brian Wiens, continues to expand its impact across the City through education, engagement, and strategic relationshipbuilding. The team delivers public presentations on active shooter preparedness, elementary school safety patrol, personal safety, scam and fraud prevention, and guidance on calling 911.

In 2025, the team coordinated numerous signature events, including Citizens Academy, Night to Unite, Coffee with a Cop, the Blaine Festival expo booth, school carnivals, and police department tours. Several new initiatives were successfully launched, including the inaugural Blaine PD Winter Wishlist (a high school Shop with a Cop program), Groceries with Guardians gift card giveaway, Pickleball with the Police, Junior Citizens Academy, and food distribution support at Hope for the Community. Outreach efforts also expanded through participation in Blaine Youth Baseball Night, backpack giveaways, pop-up camps at local businesses, and extra Coffee with a Cop locations. The community outreach trailer remains a valuable operational asset, enhancing event visibility and supporting coat, food, and toy drive logistics to ensure efficient distribution to residents in need.

Beyond programming, the team represents the department on 21 community committees and manages key administrative functions, including public fingerprinting, alarm registration and false alarm monitoring, and resident inquiries. They also conduct Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments and safety evaluations for local businesses and faith communities.

The Blaine Police Community Alliance entered its second year and was restructured to create a separate Business Alliance, which will begin meeting independently in 2026. Monthly meetings emphasize education and open dialogue, strengthening collaboration, transparency, and trust.

The team maintains a strong communications presence across Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and Ring Neighbors, while authoring six CityConnect newsletter articles annually and providing content for the Blaine Neighbors magazine. Popular content includes Patrol Perspective features, employee and community spotlights, K-9 updates, calls for service summaries, and award recognitions. BPD’s combined social media audience increased by 14 percent over last year, reflecting continued growth in community

PATROL DIVISION

The patrol division is led by Captain Mike Rygg who has been with the department for nearly 10 years and has over 14 years of law enforcement experience.

The division is comprised of 53 patrol officers and eight supervisors. They operate on 12-hour shifts with transitions generally occurring at 6AM and 6PM. A mid-shift team begins their patrol days at 10AM to cover the period when call volumes are at their peak.

The patrol division has several specialty units and assignments including the traffic unit, dedicated DWI enforcement, K9 unit, community service officers, bike patrol, retail specialists, UAS (drone) unit, community assistance team, cadets, and reserves. These specialty units and assignments fill certain niches that contribute to a more wellrounded agency as well as provide some variety and career opportunities for patrol staff.

In addition to conducting self-initiated activities such as traffic enforcement, retail details, and routine patrols, the division responded to 53,905 calls for service, representing a three percent decrease from the previous year.

The chart below shows the calls for service for the last five years, indicating calls are trending down slightly.

Calls for Service

TrafficUnit

An important component of a public safety plan is the enforcement of traffic laws. The department’s dedicated traffic enforcement unit, under the leadership of Sergeant Stefczak, is comprised of Officer Bernardy, Officer Greene, and Officer Satele.

Our traffic enforcement officers were very busy again this year; Officers Bernardy and Greene had a combined total of 3,027 stops, issuing 2,169 citations. Both Bernardy and Greene were very active with high visibility enforcement, focusing much of their efforts on school zone safety, distracted driving, and speed enforcement. The traffic unit was also responsible for responding to traffic complaints throughout the City, many of which were generated through the City’s online complaint form.

Our traffic officers assisted with developing a new ebike/motorized scooter city ordinance, teaching driver education at Blaine High School, and they participated in the newly formed Anoka County Safe Roads Coalition.

Traffic Safety

Traffic Safety Week

Our traffic unit is lucky enough to have one of two non-Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Inspectors in the state. Officer Bernardy conducted 122 commercial vehicle inspections in 2025. Through those inspections he was able to take 37 vehicles out of service for safety concerns and 13 drivers who were driving without the proper license requirements.

DWI Traffic Safety Officer Grant

The traffic unit was again awarded the DWI Traffic Safety Officer grant. This grant position was filled by Officer Tommy Satele who made 1,177 traffic stops, resulting in 93 arrests, 76 of which were for DWI. Satele also teaches new hires Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), and instructor development courses with the MN State Patrol.

The traffic enforcement unit hosted their fourth annual Blaine traffic safety week from June 2 through June 6. This event is designed to draw attention to the importance of traffic safety using pre-event publicity, the State Patrol fixed wing airplane, a booth at the Blaine Festival, and a highly visible saturation style enforcement/ education approach.

The saturation event focuses on speeding, pedestrians (crosswalks/jaywalking), commercial vehicle inspections, distracted driving, and DWI enforcement. During traffic safety week, officers working the details, stopped 319 cars, issued 98 citations, and arrested 12 people. This enforcement effort was highly publicized on our social media accounts and gained the attention of the K102 morning show, Chris Carr and Company. Members from the morning show came out to Blaine to meet officers and the “Man behind the Mullet”, Officer Greene.

Officers Satele and Greene both received numerous awards for their dedication to traffic safety. Satele received awards from both Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the MN Office of Traffic Safety for DWI enforcement efforts. Greene received several awards from the MN Department of Public Safety and Office of Traffic Safety for his commitment to safe roadways.

UNIT

The patrol K9 unit is supervised by Sergeant Hatanpa and is comprised of three handlers and their canine partners. As lead K9 instructor, Officer Reggie Larson is in his 16th year as a handler and is teamed up with Hector, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois. He works diligently to maintain his elite reputation among K9 handlers metro-wide. Officer Kelly Titus is teamed up with her K9 partner Vinny, a 3-yearold purebred German Shepherd, and Officer Alex Moore is teamed up with K9 partner Andy, a 4year-old Shepherd mix.

Unit Highlights:

➢ Hosted 40 teams for a Decoy & Bite Development Class

➢ Hosted 35 dog teams for narcotics detection training

➢ Hosted "Trial Prep Days" weekly for six weeks

➢ K9 Hector and K9 Andy certified as USPCA Narcotic Detection Dogs

➢ K9 Hector placed 10th overall at Region 12 USPCA Patrol Trials

➢ K9 Hector placed second in Apprehension at Region 12 Patrol Trials

➢ Officer Titus and K9 Vinny certified USPCA in patrol and narcotics

➢ Officer Larson was awarded the Eric Christenson Award from the USPCA which recognizes someone who promotes the values of Region 12 and the USPCA, while showing strong moral character and sportsmanship in advancing police service dogs.

By the Numbers

1,758 TRAINING HOURS

258 DEPLOYMENTS

92 ARREST ASSISTS

27 PUBLIC DEMOS

2,500

50% TRACKING FIND RATE

K9 Trading Cards

Forget rookie baseball cards, the coolest collectibles in town came from our K9 unit. These trading cards are the ultimate community “paws-port,” featuring fun facts and stats about our four-legged “reallife” heroes.

RetailUnit

The retail unit is supervised by Sergeant Hatanpa and is responsible for providing enhanced patrol in the greater Northtown Mall commercial district as well as serving as liaisons for retailers citywide. The dedicated officers of the retail unit consist of Officer Miles Wakumoto and Officer Omar Molinos. They work to build relationships with retailers and visitors to Northtown Mall as well as adjacent businesses. Detective Paul Estby also works with the retail unit as the investigative liaison.

A significant emphasis was placed on proactively patrolling the greater Northtown retail patrol district that includes Northtown Mall and surrounding businesses. The retail unit, with help from the investigations division, organized three multi-discipline saturation events aimed at identifying repeat offenders and deterring theft crimes. These events were assisted by the neighboring agencies of Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, and the AnokaHennepin Drug Task Force, resulting in deterring crime and reducing its impact in this concentrated high retail volume area.

Saturation event stats:

Community Service Officers(CSOs)

The community service officer unit is led by Sergeant Mitchell and consists of multiple non-sworn personnel who assist with non-emergency calls, traffic control, and community engagement.

They play a pivotal role within the police department by assisting in the day-to-day functions, managing administrative tasks and handling the low priority calls, which allows sworn officers to focus on critical law enforcement duties.

CSOs are part time employees who are working towards earning a degree in law enforcement. The overarching goal of the unit is to prepare its members for future roles as sworn police officers. This is accomplished through coaching, mentorship, and ongoing training.

By the end of 2025, the current CSO unit members included Justin Adamski, a full time CSO that also oversees the police department’s fleet, Vincent Oleson, Alexander Blilie, Aiden Foster, Paula Mariette, Mara Smith and Sophie Brenteson.

Unmanned AerialSystem (UAS)

Drone Unit

The department’s unmanned aerial system (drone) unit was established in 2023 and consists of 18 officers who are certified FAA Part 107 pilots. The use of drones provides many benefits to public safety during emergency responses by quickly locating missing persons, dangerous suspects, surveying scenes of natural disasters, and assisting in security assessments for the many large events hosted in Blaine.

The department added an interior drone to be used for searching buildings before sending officers into dangerous situations. Between interior and exterior flights, the department flew 107 missions, consisting of 239 individual drone flights. During these missions, officers located fleeing suspects, evidence, medical emergency victims, and multiple missing children and vulnerable adults. To ensure safe and successful operations, pilots also participated in several organized training events throughout the year.

BikePatrolUnit

The bike patrol unit consists of 19 officers certified through the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA). These officers logged 207 hours on the bikes between directed patrol in the retail and business districts, Lakeside Commons Beach patrol, 3M Open tournament, and residential patrol.

The department replaced two of its aging electric bikes with newer, lighter ones. The current fleet consists of three e-bikes and three traditional pedal bikes.

Community Assistance Team(CAT)

The community assistance team is a dedicated group of officers committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. Led by Officer TJ Brownell, the team includes Officers Don Plowman and Carly Ahlers, with additional support from Victim Services Specialist Andrea Donaldson.

CAT responds to referrals from patrol officers during calls for service, focusing on residents with mental health or medical concerns that result in repeated emergency calls. When such cases are identified, the team conducts a thorough assessment to determine whether further followup or additional resources are appropriate. These resources may include mental health, financial, or housing assistance.

In 2025, CAT successfully bridged critical gaps for multiple vulnerable adults who were struggling to care for themselves, often resulting in repeated hospital visits. Through coordinated efforts, the team helped transition individuals into care facilities or establish in-home services, ensuring they are now safer and better supported.

Follow-up efforts involve close collaboration with residents, family members, Anoka County Adult Protection, Allina Social Services, and the Anoka County Community Action Program. Together, these partners work to create individualized plans that meet each person’s unique needs.

The CAT program exemplifies proactive policing and community partnership providing compassionate solutions that improve quality of life and reduce strain on emergency services.

Assistance

PublicSafetyCadets

Established in 1991 and rebranded in 2025, the Blaine public safety cadet unit is a volunteer nonprofit that prepares youth (ages 14–21), for careers in law enforcement and beyond.

Key Highlights:

➢ Training & Mentorship: 19 active cadets receive weekly training in leadership, teamwork, and conflict management.

➢ Community Impact: Cadets volunteered 1,665 hours at major events like the 3M Open and Fourth of July Fireworks and logged 1,240 hours of training.

➢ Award-Winning Performance: At the April 2025 state conference, the unit earned awards and scholarships in 9 out of 14 competitive categories. (See photo below.)

➢ Fundraising: The program recently launched the Donut Dash 5K to fund uniforms, gear, and competition costs.

➢ Recruitment: applications are accepted yearround. Volunteer candidates must maintain a 2.0 GPA, pass a background check, and commit to 60 volunteer hours annually.

The program is managed by Lead Post Mentor Sergeant Hale and Assistant Lead Post Mentor Sergeant Mitchell. They are assisted by Officers Knott, Blilie, Mokey, Ahlers, L. Larson, Sergeant Nordby, and CSOs Oleson and Mariette.

ReservesUnit

The police reserves unit is comprised of dedicated volunteers who donate their time to support the patrol division through uniformed patrols of the city and assistance with traffic direction and crowd control. Some reserve officers are community members who want to contribute to something meaningful in their community, while others are exploring law enforcement as a potential career.

Reserve officers receive ongoing in-service training, including use of force, report writing, patrol tactics, and Taser© certification. They also attend monthly meetings to maintain readiness and proficiency. They are frequently called upon to assist with non-emergency calls for service such as vehicle lockouts, motorist assists, animal control calls, and natural disasters.

In 2025, four additional reserve officers were hired, bringing the unit to a total of 11 active reserve officers. The unit assisted with 64 planned events - working a combined total of over 500 hours at various City, County, and State functions, including but not limited to: Heroes and Helpers, SWAT role play training, high school football and hockey games, local and neighboring city carnivals, fireworks, parades, Night to Unite, 3M Open PGA golf tournament, USA Soccer Cup, landfill search, and the Polar Plunge.

The program is managed by Officer Mike Slavik.

INVESTIGATIONS

The investigations division is led by Captain Mark Boerboom, who has been with the department for over 19 years. The division is comprised of 16 members including detectives, drug task force detectives, a crime analyst, and a victim services specialist.

In addition to managing the division, Captain Boerboom is responsible for administrative investigations and the division’s budget.

DetectiveUnit

The detective unit is led by Sergeant Barry Koch who oversees 11 detectives and one crime analyst. The unit investigates violent crimes, property crimes, financial crimes, and crimes against children and vulnerable adults.

All general detectives are trained in child forensic interviewing through Corner House which teaches for child abuse and criminal sexual conduct cases.

The detective unit investigated a total of 1,086 cases and completed 16 employment background checks.

Crime Analyst Rebecca Florhaug works as part of the team to assist detectives with suspect identification, cell phone forensics, crime pattern analysis, and crime mapping. She also gathers and analyzes data for other units within the department for advancement and development.

Detective Sommer was selected and assigned to the U.S. Marshals Office Predatory Offender Task Force. The primary mission of this assignment is to locate and apprehend non-compliant predatory offenders, ensuring they are brought into compliance with registration requirements. This collaboration strengthened our efforts to protect the community by addressing high-risk individuals who pose a potential threat to public safety.

VictimServicesProgram

The Victim Services Specialist (VSS) position was grant-funded throughout 2025 and is currently held by Andrea Donaldson. In this role, Donaldson provides comprehensive, trauma-informed support, advocacy, and resources to individuals and families impacted by crime. Serving as a vital bridge between victims and the criminal justice system, she works closely with law enforcement agencies, prosecutor offices, and community organizations to ensure victims receive the assistance they need. She also presents relevant safety topics and essential training to staff and community members.

Case Investigations

Notable Case Investigations:

➢ Homicide:

Detectives assisted in a multi-agency homicide investigation of a 16-year-old male, where a suspect was apprehended.

➢ Juvenile Demand Suppression Operation:

Staff organized and coordinated a two-day operation to combat juvenile solicitation of prostitution. The operation resulted in 22 arrests, in which nearly half resulted in federal charges.

➢ Manny Collins Investigation:

On multiple occasions, investigations staff assisted with a multi-agency effort in searching for the remains of a murdered teenager at a landfill. Remains were found leading to an arrest.

➢ Multiple Kwik Trip Robberies:

The investigation into multiple robberies at Kwik Trips resulted in an arrest of a 31-yearold suspect.

Anoka-Hennepin NarcoticsandViolent CrimesTaskForce (AHNVCTF)

The Blaine Police Department is in partnership with the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force (AHNVCTF). The investigations division has two detectives assigned to the task force for a three-year term.

The task force detectives investigate large scale narcotics trafficking and sales in Blaine and the surrounding areas and they assist with fugitive apprehension. They work alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders.

One of two Blaine detectives also serves as a task force officer with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), focusing on mail-related crimes. The chart below details FY25 USPIS Task Force seizures.

OPERATIONS

Captain Russ Clark is the City’s emergency management director and runs the operations division. Captain Clark has worked for the department since 2001 and moved to this division from the Investigations division in March. Captain Clark is responsible for coordinating the emergency preparedness for both the police department and the City of Blaine. As part of those duties and responsibilities, the emergency management division seeks to prepare the community for coordinated and planned special events as well as disasters and emergencies.

Captain Clark also oversees the Directed Operations Group (DOG) and Blaine Police Department members on Anoka County SWAT.

Accomplishments from the year include:

➢ Worked with Anoka County Emergency Management to update Anoka County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP).

➢ Planned and successfully executed the safety plan for the USA Cup Soccer and at the National Sports Center (NSC), as well as the 3M Open PGA tournament at the TPC Twin Cities Golf Club.

➢ Ongoing coordination and planning with the 105th Avenue Entertainment District developers and Blaine city staff to ensure public safety aspects are addressed during the planning phases.

➢ Managed the Blaine Emergency Operations Center (EOC) while the City experienced a cybersecurity incident.

➢ Partnered with Community Standards and Building Inspections to address the aging storm shelters within the six mobile home communities located throughout the City.

DirectedOperations Group (DOG)

The directed operations group, a plain clothes problem-oriented policing unit, has two officers and one detective assigned to the unit. They work closely with investigations, patrol, and the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force. They assist the retail unit in the Northtown Mall area with retail theft details, and they deploy specialty surveillance equipment in high crime areas. The unit conducts gun permit background checks and compliance checks for predatory offenders, alcohol, tobacco, and massage licensing. The chart below shows FY25 compliance checks conducted.

MobileFieldForceTeam (MFF)

The department’s mobile field force team has over 30 officers who are specially trained to respond to civil unrest, heightened threats, and large disturbances. The team is managed by Captain Russ Clark and Sergeant Brad Nordby.

Anoka County SWAT

The Blaine Police Department is a part of the Anoka County SWAT team. This team consists of members from several Anoka County agencies and operates as a county-wide response team. The Blaine police department has nine members on this team comprising of operators and negotiators that respond to a variety of high risk and tactical callouts.

The mobile field force team trains two to three times per year on mobile field force tactics, response to civil disorder, crowd control, and lesslethal munitions, focusing on maintaining order and protecting public safety.

The Blaine mobile field force team is also part of the North Command Mobile Field Force Team (NCMFF), a much larger multi-jurisdictional MFF team. This team consists of several Anoka County law enforcement agencies who train for large scale civil unrest situations in which several officers from different agencies may be needed.

SWAT members have high level training in tactical entries, breaching, rescues, warrant service, vehicle suppressions and negotiations. They train once or twice a month on top of their regular law enforcement training.

COMMUNITY

Coffee with a Cop

This community engagement program is designed to break down barriers between local residents and police officers. These informal gatherings foster positive interactions with the community.

Tip-A-Cop

Tip-a-Cop is a Special Olympics MN fundraising event where Blaine police act as “celebrity waiters” at local restaurants. Our officers serve food and bus tables to raise money for Special Olympic athletes, with all tips going directly to support sports training and health programs.

Bark in the Park

This annual community event held in August at Swanson Dog Park celebrates the end of summer. This free, dog-friendly gathering features local petfocused vendors, food trucks, live music, free dog treats, and opportunities.

Appreciation Picnic

Blaine police officers were treated to many appreciation picnic lunches by Crestview, Sysco, and others to thank them for their service and community protection.

Senior Safety & Wellness Fair

This annual event offers seniors resources, vendors, speakers on safety and health, lunch, and entertainment. Blaine staff enjoys these connections.

Hope for the Community

A large group of Blaine staff volunteered their time at the Hope Church food distribution. They served families with a big smile and a warm hello as they loaded their cars full of food.

Cadet Donut Dash

An inaugural run/walk event was held as a fundraiser for the Blaine Police Cadet program, supporting training and mentorship.

Police Pickleball

A first-time event, “Pickleball with the Police”, invited players of all skill levels to join, socialize, and compete. This popular sport engaged residents with police in a fun, relaxed environment.

BIKERODEO

This educational event teaches kids bike safety skills, helmet use, and safe riding practices.

ENGAGEMENT

Safety Camp

The Blaine police department and SBM fire department, along with the parks and recreation department cosponsor this exciting two-day summer program to teach fourth grade kids, through a variety of fun activities, how to be safe in their daily lives.

Arrive Alive

This two-day program challenges teens to think about the dangers of impaired driving. A simulation crash involving pre-selected students is staged and viewed by Centennial school juniors and seniors. A mock funeral assembly includes letters written by family to show the tragic impacts of distracted driving.

School Science Fair Judging

Elementary students presented their projects to be scored on their scientific and creative skills.

New Americans Academy

This educational program is designed to help immigrants and refugees integrate into the community by providing information on local governments, safety services, and U.S. laws.

Night to Unite

The first Tuesday in August is all about neighbors, connection, and community. Blaine’s Night to Unite brings more than 100 block parties together across the city to celebrate what makes our neighborhoods strong. Local and state elected officials also joined in on the fun.

COMMUNITY

Polar Plunge

The City of Blaine hosted the Anoka County Polar Plunge for the second time. Over $227,000 was raised for the Special Olympics MN. Team Blaine came prepared to help as they were “Life Guarding” their way through the icy cold water.

Torch Run

The 22nd Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics is a long-held tradition. A MN Special Olympics athlete, Lucy Haugland, will be representing Team MN at the 2026 USA games. She joined team BPD and held up the Special Olympics torch with Detective Orin Christensen.

Guns-N-Hoses

The 9th Annual Guns-N-Hoses Charity Hockey Game brings out a competitive spirit. Team Guns pulled out a 3-1 win in a hard-fought battle. Over $35,000 was raised for The Front Line Foundation which supports many first responders.

Citizen’s Academy

The Citizen’s Academy had another successful year. The nine-week course introduces residents to the structure and daily operations of the police, fire, and community standards departments. The fun and diverse group of 23 participants varied in age from 18 to 80. Participants enjoyed this powerful program that provides an elevated perspective of public safety.

Junior Citizen’s Academy

The first ever Junior Citizen’s Academy took place over MEA break. Twelve high school students got a unique, hands-on look at what it takes to serve and protect their community. They spent one day with the fire department and one day with our police department. The students were able to explore real public safety skills, teamwork, and leadership.

ENGAGEMENT

Toys for Tots

This annual event brings in an enormous number of toys. A total of 15 boxes were filled by police and City staff, as well as community members. The contributions have a tremendous direct impact on local families.

Winter Wishlist

The first ever winter wishlist event took place at Walmart where ten high school students were given a shopping experience, compliments of Walmart. The smiles and gratitude shown throughout the day made it a truly special event.

Heroes & Helpers

The 16th annual Heroes & Helpers event paired first responders with youth from area schools for a holiday shopping experience they will never forget. A total of 75 volunteers shopped with 70 kids, making the holiday season a little brighter for everyone.

Groceries with Guardians

Spreading kindness in the grocery aisles during the holiday season. Police staff visited the Walmart Supercenter to surprise shoppers in the grocery aisles with gift cards toward their grocery bill. No signups, no criteria, just genuine acts of kindness for members of our community, fostering positive interactions and some holiday cheer.

AWARDS

Life Saving Award

Selected by the awards committee, this is awarded to a member of the department or citizen, for performance of duties and special efforts that led to the saving of a life.

Officer Bolstad helped save a suicidal male from jumping off a bridge by speaking with the male for 15 minutes and convincing him to climb down and go to the hospital.

CSO Blilie received two life saving awards. One was for rescuing a non-verbal child who was up to his neck in a pond, and the other was for helping save a suicidal female from jumping off a bridge by engaging with the female in a calm, compassionate conversation.

Department Commendation

Selected by the awards committee, this is awarded to a member of the department who distinguishes themselves for an act of achievement that is beyond the normal performance required of that member; or which has a significant impact to the department or community; or which reflects great credit upon the department and the law enforcement profession as a whole.

The Investigations team of Florhaug, Koch, Peterson and Vollman received this award for their involvement in a Juvenile Suppression Detail.

PROMOTIONS

Captain Mike Rygg Promoted on 1/13/2025

Captain Zach Johnson Promoted on 3/17/2025

Sergeant Nick Traffie Promoted on 1/27/2025

Sergeant Samantha Mitchell Promoted on 3/17/2025

RETIREMENTS

Matt Carlson Retired on 3/14/2025

20 Years with BPD

Tom Johann Retired on 3/27/2025

29 Years with BPD

STAFF ROSTER

Administration

Brian Podany, Police Chief

Joe Gerhard, Deputy Chief

Cara Rand, Executive Assistant

Gordy Fiske,* Desk Officer

Captains

Mark Boerboom, Investigations

Russ Clark, Operations

Zach Johnson, Administrative Services

Mike Rygg, Patrol

Sergeants

Travis Hale, Patrol

Nate Hatanpa, Patrol

Barry Koch, Investigations

Joe Matzke, Administrative Services

Samantha Mitchell, Patrol

Brad Nordby, Patrol

Joe Sadler, Patrol

Dan Stefczak, Patrol

Nick Traffie, Patrol

Wes Villegas, Patrol

Investigations

Orin Christensen, Detective

Andrea Donaldson, VSS

Paul Estby, Retail Detective

Rebecca Florhaug, Crime Analyst

Jake Green, DTF Detective

Ben Johnson, Detective

Nate Peterson, Provisional Detective

Joe Ramirez, Provisional Detective

James Ross, Detective

Mike Sommer, Detective

Josh Sundgaard, DTF Detective

Tou Vang, Provisional Detective

Mike Vollman, Provisional Detective

Community Outreach

Emily Krech, Coordinator

Brian Wiens, Officer

Patrol Officers

Carly Ahlers

Mark Allen, SRO

Joel Alvarado

Alex Arnsdorf, SRO

Kyle Augustin

Trent Bachman

Dale Bernardy, Traffic

Andrew Blilie

Jennah Bolstad

Grant Breems

TJ Brownell

Frank Caruso

Jacob Chamberland

Jacob Cree

Mikael Dahlstrom

Brandon Fettig

Sam Fritz

Patrick Graves

Kurt Greene, Traffic

Jackie Groshens*

Jaden Johnson

Rachel Knott

Abbie Lamberty

Logan Larson, DOG

Reggie Larson, K9

Caleb Link

Mike Marohnic

Diana Mokey

Omar Molinos, Retail

Alex Moore, K9

Pete Noll

Braden Olmstead*

Travis Peterson, DOG

Don Plowman

Justin Pohlman, SRO

Zachary Prokosch

Mike Quinn

Joe Ramaley

Aaron Rice

Laura Rolfes

Tommy Satele, DWI

Matt Schlenker

Thomas Shields*

Mitch Singewald

Mike Slavik

Kelly Titus, K9

Jackie Wagner, SRO

Miles Wakumoto, Retail

Tim Wessels

Savana West

Valerie Zeman

Dan Zimmerman

Support Services

Brooke Jacobson, Coordinator

Jen Bedell, Records Technician

Melissa Christensen, Evidence Technician

Jocelyn Hazel,* Records/Evidence Technician

Andrea Jordan, Lead Records Technician

Kelly Karas, Records Technician

Kayla Skoglund, Evidence Technician

CSOs

Justin Adamski

Alexander Blilie

Sophie Brenteson*

Aiden Foster*

Paula Mariette*

Vincent Oleson

Mara Smith*

Reserves

Blake Besaw

Timothy Cyson

Craig Dickenson

Hannah Kiefer

Nick Long

Jada Mora

Jacob Reininger

*New in 2025