Message from Chief Podany
As we close another year, I am proud to present your 2024 Annual Report for the Blaine Police Department. This past year was one of continued progress, community engagement, and resilience. It has been another amazing year in Blaine as we continue to advance safety in our community and make Blaine the greatest City to live, work, and grow! Your police department has worked tirelessly to enhance public safety, strengthen trust, and adapt to the evolving needs and uniqueness of our community.
The more than 100 members of the Blaine Police Department stand committed to providing everyone with the greatest service possible. We focus on the individual and provide compassionate, personalized attention focused on our core values. It is through your support that we are able to grow our excellent community partnership, and we do not take this responsibility lightly.
This year brought both challenges and opportunities. The department responded to over 55,000 calls for service in 2024 and continued driving down the most serious types of crimes in our community. These types of crimes saw a 17 percent decrease in 2024 compared to the previous year. Less serious crimes saw a very slight three percent increase this year. While we continued to respond to a growing suburban population and increasingly complex calls for service, we also invested in technology, training, and new initiatives aimed at proactive policing and neighborhood support. These efforts are part of our long-term vision to ensure every resident feels safe, heard, and respected.
Of significance in 2024, you will notice an updated image for our department. After over 30 years of our old uniform badge and patch, we updated our patch and badge to reflect enhanced professionalism and pay homage to our history and community.
We continue to place a strong emphasis on officer wellness and professional development, recognizing that a healthy and supported force is essential to providing the high-quality service our community expects and deserves. We have seen various changes in the department this year as well. Our police department is now part of the greater Anoka County SWAT Team, a role that was previously only part of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. This additional role not only enhances the services of the SWAT Team, but helps ensure your Blaine officers are at the forefront of tactics in responding to dangerous situations that occur here in Blaine. Our community outreach team has continued to expand services in our community, as well as expanding our social media footprint. We have additionally enhanced our traffic safety and unmanned aerial system (drone) efforts to ensure our roadways and neighborhoods remain safe for all.
I am immensely grateful to the individuals of the Blaine Police Department for their dedication, courage, and professionalism. Their daily commitment, often under difficult circumstances, is the backbone of our success. I am equally thankful to our residents, elected officials, and city leadership for your continued trust, collaboration, and support. As we look ahead to 2025, our focus remains clear: to enhance the quality of life in Blaine by serving with integrity, respect, and professionalism.
Thank you for standing with us.
Brian Podany Chief of Police Blaine Police Department
Organizational Structure
Captain
Chief
Captain
School
Department Overview
Staffing
The department continued efforts to increase staffing according to the five year staffing plan which includes adding two additional patrol officers each year to the overall authorized strength. The numbers below reflect where the department was on December 31, 2024.
$18.6M
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.
Giving Back totheCommunity
Guns-NHoses
The 7th annual GunsN-Hoses charity hockey game took place at the Blaine Super Rink. The hoses took home the trophy pulling out a big 7-1 victory over the guns. Over $65,000 was raised to support the families of the Burnsville public safety fallen heroes.
Torch Run
The Blaine Police Department joined law enforcement personnel from around the region for the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money for the Special Olympics. Blaine staff ran or biked from the Blaine Police Department to the Spring Lake Park Police Department.
Heroes & Helpers
The 14th annual Heroes & Helpers event was made possible again this year by generous donations from Target, the Blaine Police Federation, and the Blaine Festival. The program made it possible for 60 kids to shop at Target and bring gifts home for their families with the help and guidance of the Blaine police staff and other first responders in the community.
Community Engagement
Safety Camp
The annual Blaine Safety Camp was held in August at SBM Fire Station 3. Incoming fourth graders experienced two days of learning and fun. This very popular event focuses on teaching kids how to be safe in a variety of situations. Blaine police officers participate as group leaders and give several demonstrations and safety tips.
Citizens Academy
The Blaine Citizens Academy is an eight-week course designed to introduce residents to the structure and daily operations of the Blaine Police, Fire, and Community Standards departments. The fast-paced academy provides both classroom and hands-on training, offering a fun and safe behind-the-scenes look at the functions of safety services. The academy is free to anyone who lives or works in Blaine.
Night to Unite
Night to Unite is all about building community and trust. Over 100 Blaine neighborhoods hosted block parties. Public safety personnel, including the police department and City Councilmembers, made stops at multiple parties all over the City. A lot of planning and coordinating goes into this successful event.
55,623 Calls for Service
74,876 Policing Population
2,742
Total Arrests
3,569 Citations Issued
1,126 Accidents
436 Animal Complaints
4 Homicide/ Manslaughter
10 Robberies
1,715 Medicals
554 Gun Permits Processed
75 Burglaries
566 Shoplifting
Crime Statistics 5-Year Trend
Part I Crimes
Part I crimes are the most serious offenses.
Part II Crimes
Part II crimes are less serious offenses.
Administrative Services
The administrative services division was led by Captain Joe Gerhard. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in November and continued to lead the division through the end of the year. Gerhard is responsible for managing department training, policies, support services/records unit, evidence/property room, school resource officers, community outreach, and a new victim services program, as well as an employee wellness program.
Administrative Services Sergeant Mike Rygg oversees training, school resource officers, employee onboarding, and the field training program (see page 22 for more information.)
Training
The training unit is responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and maintaining all department training as well as verifying that all sworn officers maintain MN POST required training.
The training unit conducts department wide training for use of force and firearms. A dedicated building is utilized for law enforcement training such as de-escalation, simunitions, Taser, 40mm less lethal launchers, and Mobile Field Force. Scenario based training that closely resembles a
Policies
The police department contracts with Lexipol, a national law enforcement policy company that ensures policies are legal and defensible, and that best practices are followed. The policy manual is available on the department’s website as part of our commitment to transparency with the public.
School Resource Officers (SROs)
School resource officers are responsible for safety and crime prevention in schools. SROs are assigned to Blaine and Centennial High Schools, Roosevelt Middle School, and Westwood Intermediate and Middle School. They work closely with school administrators to create a safe environment for both students and staff.
Alex Arnsdorf patrolled Blaine High School, Jackie Wagner patrolled Centennial High School, Mark Allen patrolled Roosevelt Middle School, and Trent Bachman patrolled Westwood Intermediate and Middle School. There was a coordinated effort by the Blaine Police Department to maintain the safety and security at the schools until the legislative fix to the statute on March 14.
Victim Services Program
The department applied for and was awarded a Crime Victims Services Grant through the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
The grant funds a victim services specialist position for two years which provides advocacy, support, information, and resources to victims of all crime types. This ensures everyone has equal access to options that address the trauma impact in the aftermath of experiencing a crime. There are four primary services the position provides: direct victim services, resource gathering and sharing, police services, community education and partnering. Having a full-time dedicated position helps bridge gaps that were previously there as well as provides many far-reaching benefits to the Blaine community. The victims services specialist position was filled by Andrea Donaldson in November.
Support Services/Records
The records unit is under the supervision of Administrative Services Coordinator Brooke Jacobson. The records team consists of one lead technician and four record technicians.
The five member team provides support services to department staff, a variety of agencies in the community, as well as to the general public. They continue to utilize the latest technology to move documents and reports through various systems ensuring an efficient workflow.
A five year trend of incident reports processed is displayed below. There was a decrease in reports processed from the previous year.
The evidence department is responsible for receiving and maintaining the chain of custody for all physical and digital evidence that is taken in by the police department. They also fulfill digital data requests. Administrative Services Coordinator, Brooke Jacobson, supervises the evidence unit.
There were 2,749 items of evidence taken in, 4,587 items disposed of, and 212 items returned to the owner. There were also 46 data requests received from the public and 1,871 digital media requests for discovery which was a slight increase from the previous year.
2,749 PIECES OF EVIDENCE COLLECTED
4,587 ITEMS DISPOSED OF
212 ITEMS RETURNED TO THE OWNER
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
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 their 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 anytime it is needed for any reason.
Mental health professionals from Marie Ridgeway & Associates conduct yearly check-ins 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 consists of Coordinator Emily Douglas and Officer Brian Wiens. Together, they manage a wide range of outreach initiatives throughout the City. Their public presentations cover various topics, including active shooter training, elementary school safety patrol, personal safety, scams and fraud prevention, and guidelines on when to call 9-1-1.
QR Code for Event photos
The team organized several major events, including the Citizens Academy, Night to Unite, the Blaine Festival expo, Coffee with a Cop, school carnivals, police department tours, and more. This year introduced two significant innovations: the inaugural Salute to Service event, a new Shop with a Veteran initiative, and the use of an interactive app to assign and track officer visits at Night to Unite parties.
Additionally, the team represents the department on 20 community committees and manages various administrative tasks, including public fingerprinting, alarm registration, and false alarm monitoring.
A new initiative this year includes educational videos produced in collaboration with North Metro TV, available in both public and internal formats to inform about community outreach efforts. The team also performs Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments and safety evaluations for businesses and churches across the City.
The Blaine Police Community Alliance, was formed in June and includes 21 residents and stakeholders who meet monthly with the community outreach team. They have open discussions and dialogue where members are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and provide feedback, fostering mutual trust and strengthening a community partnership.
The community outreach trailer continues to be a valuable asset. It not only serves as a visually engaging presence at community events, but also facilitates the transport of items for coat, food, and toy drives. It plays a crucial role in delivering these valuable items to residents in need.
The team leverages multiple media platforms to share timely information and updates, aiming to humanize officers and maintain transparency about department activities. This includes authoring the public safety article for the bimonthly CityConnect newsletter, which reaches every household in Blaine. They also manage, monitor, and moderate the department’s social media presence across several platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, Nextdoor, and Ring Neighbors. The most popular content includes videos, Patrol Perspective segments, employee spotlights, calls for service reports, K9-related posts, real-life stories, and awards recognitions.
23,735 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS
22,608 NEXTDOOR MEMBERS
3,011X (TWITTER) FOLLOWERS
2,864
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
Patch and Badge Redesign
Every member of law enforcement wears a police patch and badge which represents their willingness to sacrifice one's safety to assist others. It not only distinguishes the officer as a person of authority to uphold the law, it also identifies the officers' rank and the department they represent. An officer’s patch and badge is a symbol of pride and honor for those who take the oath of office to protect and serve their community.
The department's patch and badge have been in place for almost 30 years. The current patch has the Blaine City Logo on it that is no longer in use. Additionally, the badge has the Minnesota State Seal on it which was redesigned in May, 2024. With the City receiving public safety funds from the State of Minnesota which has funding that is eligible to be used for a patch and badge replacement, the department felt this was a good opportunity to redesign the current patch and badge.
Patch New shape
A volunteer committee was formed made up of approximately 16 staff members, including both sworn and non-sworn staff from all divisions across the department, led by Captain Joe Gerhard. The committee met monthly to discuss and share ideas about what was important to them and what they felt most represented the department. Everyone had input, discussing design elements, colors, graphics, shapes, and what makes the department unique. Several different options were created and discussed in detail. A lot of time, thought, and research was put into this project by committee members to reach a conclusion that everyone is proud of.
With the final product receiving approval from the Police Chief, City Manager, and the City Council, the re-design was put into action with an implementation date of January 1, 2025. Below is the updated patch and badge designs with detailed explanations and descriptions of each element in the design.
"BLAINE" and "POLICE" in large, easy to read lettering. Adding “MN” to reference our state, and EST. 1954 to recognize the date of inception for the police department.
The department core values are wrapped around the American Flag to show deference to the United States Constitution and the oath taken to uphold the laws and protect the rights guaranteed to the people.
Water scene with trees from the City Logo, harkening to our wetlands, lakes, and parks.
Professional, formal, timeless design that will last for many years.
Badge Oval shield shape
This conveys a sense of protection, defense and profound sense of duty towards the community.
All uniformed personnel will wear the same badge regardless of rank, a 3-color design is clean, modern and contiguous across the face of the badge.
The sunburst background elements exudes a sense of warmth, happiness, and energy, representing how staff members serve with compassion.
New Minnesota State Seal, custom tree diorama, water scene, and EST. 1954 all coincide with the elements in the patch for a consistent, contiguous look.
As proud members of our community, Blaine Police Department, strive in Blaine by serving and professionalism.
Statement community, we, the members of the strive to enhance the quality of life with integrity, respect, professionalism.
Patrol Division
The patrol division is led by Captain Matt Carlson who has been with the department for over 20 years, serving the last six years as patrol captain.
The division is comprised of 50 patrol officers and eight supervisors. They operate on 12-hour shifts with transitions generally occurring at 6AM and 6PM. A midshift 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 traffic unit, dedicated DWI enforcement, K9 unit, community service officers, bike patrol, retail specialists, community assistance team, explorer advisors, and reserve coordinators. These specialty units and assignments fill certain niches that contribute to a more well-rounded agency as well as providing some variety and career opportunities for patrol staff.
Besides conducting self-initiated activities such as traffic enforcement and routine patrols, the division responded to 55,623 calls for service, representing a 3 percent decrease from last year.
The chart below shows the calls for service each year since 2017. Last year was the first time since 2016 that the department experienced a decrease.
Traffic Enforcement Unit
An important component of a public safety plan is the enforcement of traffic laws. The department’s dedicated traffic enforcement unit is comprised of Officer Dan Zimmerman, Officer Dale Bernardy, Officer Jake Cree, and Officer Tommy Satele.
The traffic unit in conjunction with Blaine Engineering purchased traffic management software called Streetlights Data. The traffic unit is able to use this software to obtain average speeds on any roadway in the City of Blaine with just a few clicks of the mouse. They are able to obtain average speeds and traffic counts in order to respond to traffic complaints. They have partnered with Engineering to determine possible solutions to traffic issues.
The traffic unit applied for and received a grant to purchase a vehicle with an elevated point of view to be used for distracted driving enforcement. This vehicle will be used in coordination with the distracted driving truck the City of Blaine purchased in 2023.
The traffic unit had a dedicated grant funded officer for DWI enforcement. The DWI officer made a total of 1,044 traffic stops,129 arrests and of those 83 were DWI arrests.
Traffic Safety Week
The traffic enforcement unit hosted their third annual Blaine Traffic Safety Week from June 3 through June 7. This event is designed to draw attention to the importance of traffic safety using pre-event publicity, roadway signs, 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, DWIs, and street racing.
The week long event resulted in 150 traffic stops, 83 citations being issued, and 5 people being arrested. Many people were educated about traffic safety awareness.
14,751 TRAFFIC STOPS
3,569 CITATIONS ISSUED
331
272 DWI ARRESTS HANDS FREE VIOLATIONS
PATROL NIGHT SHIFT, TEAM 1
PATROL NIGHT SHIFT, TEAM 2
K-9 Unit
The patrol K-9 unit is comprised of three handlers and their canine partners. The most senior and highly experienced member of the unit is Officer Reggie Larson. He is teamed up with Hector, a 4-year old Belgian Malinois. Officer Larson is in his 15th year as a handler and works tirelessly to maintain his elite reputation among K-9 handlers metro-wide. Officer Kelly Jahnke is teamed up with her K-9 partner Vinny, a 2-year old purebred German Shepherd and Officer Alex Moore is teamed up with his K-9 partner Andy, a 3-year old Shepherd mix.
On May 19, we said goodbye to K9 Cuda who sadly passed away from medical difficulties. Though his time of service was cut short, his impact on K9 Handler Officer Jahnke, trainers, partners, and staff, was large. He had served the department for two years and will always be remembered and missed.
On July 19, K9 Vinny arrived from Germany. Officer Jahnke began basic training with K9 Vinny immediately so they could hit the road running when the official training program began in August. Officer Jahnke and K9 Vinny graduated from K9 school on November 22.
The three member team had 272 deployments with 75 percent of the deployments occurring in Blaine and the remaining 25 percent assisting neighboring agencies. Many of the deployments were to conduct a vehicle sniff for narcotics during the course of an investigation involving a traffic stop. Other deployments were for tracking offenders who fled from a crime scene or finding missing vulnerable adults. The team had 94 total arrests with a tracking find rate of 56 percent.
Additionally, the team is often called upon to perform at special events including demonstrations for Citizen’s Academy, Coffee with a Cop, Nite to Unite, elementary schools, and other public gatherings. They also conduct walk-throughs at Northtown Mall, Lakeside Commons Park, and other locations where large groups tend to gather. The team gave demonstrations to over 1,333 people in 2024.
K9 Training and Accomplishments
There is an enormous amount of training that goes into having a successful career as a handler/canine team. The three handler teams completed over 2,196 hours of training in 2024.
Hector, Cuda, and Andy all certified as USPCA Narcotics Detention Dogs
Hector and Andy certified as USPCA Patrol Dogs at the Region 12 Trial
Hector took first place in Criminal Apprehension
Andy took first place in Rookie Dog/Rookie Handler
Hector won the USPCA Region 12 Case of the Quarter for the fourth quarter for finding a shooting suspect.
2,196 TRAINING HOURS
1,333 PEOPLE AT DEMOS GIVEN
272 TOTAL DEPLOYMENTS
94
TOTAL ARRESTS
LARSON & K9 HECTOR, JAHNKE & K9 VINNY, MOORE & K9 ANDY
Retail Unit
The retail unit is primarily responsible for providing enhanced patrol in the greater Northtown commercial district as well as serving as liaisons for retailers citywide. The dedicated officers of the retail unit consists of Officer Logan Larson and Officer Nate Peterson. 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.
The retail unit working together seized 122.6 grams of methamphetamine, 106 grams of marijuana, illegal firearms, five parties were arrested with outstanding warrants, and three theft suspects were arrested. Citywide they recovered $67,750.23 in stolen merchandise.
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 special operations unit, 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 its impact in this concentrated high retail volume area.
Bike Patrol
The bike patrol unit consists of 17 officers who have completed certification through the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA). These officers logged 324 hours on the bikes this year between directed patrol in the retail and business districts, Lakeside Commons Beach patrol, 3M Open tournament, and residential patrol.
Community Service Officers (CSOs)
The community service officers unit is primarily comprised of part time employees who are working towards earning a degree in law enforcement. The overarching goal of the CSO unit is to prepare the CSOs for future roles as sworn police officers, this is accomplished through mentorship and ongoing training.
CSOs respond to a variety of non-emergency calls for service such as vehicle lockouts, animal complaints, motorist assists, and assist with many day to day functions within the police department that help keep things operating efficiently. The CSOs also participate in large scale city events including the 3M Open and the Blaine Festival, and community outreach events including Bark in the Park, Safety Camp, Heroes and Helpers, Night to Unite, and the Polar Plunge.
The CSO unit is co-led by Sergeant Barry Koch and Justin Adamski, a full time CSO who also oversees the police department’s fleet.
In 2024, the CSO unit welcomed Hannah Belka, Alex Blilie, Vincent Oleson, Victor Pham, and Joe Vang. Promoted out of the CSO unit and into roles as sworn police officers included Diana Mokey and Sam Fritz.
7,479 CSO CALLS FOR SERVICE
272
CSO ISSUED CITATIONS
The department added two electric bikes to the fleet in 2024, replacing two aging bicycles. The current fleet consists of three electric bikes and two traditional pedal bikes.
Community Assistance Team
(CAT)
The community assistance team is a group of dedicated police officers who work tirelessly to assist the more vulnerable population in our community. This important team is led by Officer TJ Brownell, who is assisted by Officers Travis Peterson, Don Plowman, and Grant Breems.
The team responds to and provides additional resources to vulnerable residents. The program receives referrals from patrol staff in the course of responding to calls for service. When a resident of Blaine is found to have mental health or medical concerns that generate repeat calls for service, an assessment is conducted to determine if county resources are warranted. These resources may include mental health, financial, or housing specialists.
Field Training Officer Program (FTO)
Sergeant Mike Rygg oversees the field training program. As the field training program coordinator, he is responsible for onboarding, scheduling, and tracking the progress of all new officer recruits and ensuring their professional development.
The field training program starts with a three-week in-house academy instructed by department personnel providing a strong foundation for the rigorous field-based training that follows. Officer trainees are paired up with a variety of veteran field training officers who work tirelessly to build the skills and confidence trainees need to be a professional police officer. The training schedule consists of sixty 12-hour shifts with the trainee taking on additional responsibilities as they progress through the program.
As trainees work their way through the four field training phases, the FTO coordinator reports to the field training advisory board. The board approves continued advancement or makes referrals for additional training. In 2024, 12 officers entered the field training program and their progress was monitored utilizing the previously implemented field training software PowerFTO. This program also continues to be developed to allow for more efficient use and effective training, evaluation, and communication amongst trainees and their trainers. With this tool, trainers can better focus on recognizing the developmental needs of their trainee and providing the best quality training to ensure they are safe and successful as they serve the community.
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
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.
Tether System
Using a grant through Emergency Management, the department purchased a tether system that allows continuous flight at up to 300 feet high. This is useful during large-scale events to allow command to monitor the situation or to provide on-scene lighting using the attached spotlight.
Thermal Capability
Thermal imaging sensors facilitate quickly locating persons in crisis, fleeing suspects, and missing children in the darkness of night.
422 FLIGHTS
164 MISSIONS FLIGHT HOURS
100
24 FOUND PEOPLE
1 FOUND ARTICLE
Explorers Post
The Blaine Police Explorer Post was established in 1991 with a mission to provide youth ages 14-21 with an opportunity to learn about law enforcement through training, volunteering, and hands on experience. This is accomplished by attendance at weekly meetings, volunteering at community events, and riding along with officers to see law enforcement at work. The dedicated explorer advisors provide training to ensure success in a future law enforcement career if they so choose. They teach life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, conflict management, and decisive thinking which are transferable to any career.
The program has 19 active explorers who are both high school and college students. The program is managed by Lead Post Advisor Sergeant Hale and Assistant Lead Post Advisor Officer Klimisch. They are assisted by Officers Knott, Blilie, Ahlers, Brownell, Traffie and Sergeant Nordby.
The explorers attended the Minnesota Law Enforcement Exploring Association Annual Conference in Rochester on April 18-21. The conference put the explorers to the test in 14 competitive scenarios where they were challenged to perform at a very high level. Once again, the explorers represented Blaine well, earning awards in both team and individual
At the conference Sergeant Hale received the 2024 Advisor of the Year Award. This award represents advisors that go above and beyond for their involvement in the explorer program. Sergeant Hale continuously demonstrates his commitment and passion to the program. The members of the program nominated him to be recognized for this well deserved award.
The explorers also help with major City events such as the 3M Open, the Blaine fireworks show and parade, and many other events in Blaine and surrounding communities. The explorers volunteered a total of 1,232 hours at community events and logged a collective 952 hours of training time.
Reserves Unit
The police reserves unit is comprised of volunteers who donate their time to supplement the patrol division with uniformed patrols of the City and assisting with traffic direction and crowd control. Some reserves are community members looking to be part of something significant in their community. Others are exploring the police profession as a possible career choice.
The reserves receive in-service training including use of force, report writing, patrol tactics, and attend monthly meetings. They are often asked to assist with non-emergency calls for service such as vehicle lockouts, motorist assists, and animal control calls.
The program is managed by Sergeant Joe Matzke and Officer Mike Slavik.
EXPLORER TEAM AT EXPLORERS CONFERENCE IN ROCHESTER, MN
Special Operations
The special operations division is led by Captain Russ Clark, who has been with the department for over 23 years. The division is comprised of 16 members to include detectives, drug task force detectives, directed operations group officers, and a crime analyst. In addition to managing the division, Captain Clark is responsible for administrative investigations, the division’s budget and the department’s Mobile Field Force (MFF) team-see page 26 for more information.
Investigations
The investigations unit is led by Sergeant Wes Villegas. He 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 through Corner House which teaches child forensic interviewing for child abuse and criminal sexual conduct cases.
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.
The division investigated a total of 1,129 cases in 2024. There were 554 gun permits to purchase backgrounds processed and 30 employment backgrounds completed.
Notable case investigations from the year:
Detective Christensen worked Blaine’s first, and likely Anoka County’s first, Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) case. A Blaine resident was determined to meet the criteria for the issuance of an ERPO. The ERPO was successfully and safely served, and the respondent’s firearms were seized leaving Blaine a safer place.
Detective Johnson worked a child abuse case at a daycare center involving an infant victim. Through an extensive investigation, it was determined that two daycare workers were the source of multiple incidents of abuse against several infant victims. Both daycare workers were charged with multiple counts of felony malicious punishment of a child, and third degree assault. This case will undoubtedly have a lasting effect on all involved.
Detective Estby worked a case in which a convicted domestic abuser repeatedly called and harassed his victim, as well as members of the police department over a several month period. Extensive work was put into this case which resulted in multiple criminal complaints, and the suspect being located and taken into custody.
Detective Ross worked a case that was initially reported as a suspicious medical event. Through an extensive investigation it was later determined to be an assault with a baseball bat, that resulted in the victim suffering a life altering traumatic brain injury. The suspect was also being investigated by another law enforcement agency due to information uncovered by Detective Ross’ thorough investigation.
Detective Sommer investigated a roadside shooting on a local highway. Through collaborative efforts using cell phone analysis and surveillance, the shooter was arrested and two firearms were recovered, including one with a full auto sear. A second drive-by shooting was also solved. The suspect will likely be federally indicted with the information and evidence recovered from the case.
Detective Rolfes worked a fraud case during which an elderly victim was scammed out of twenty thousand dollars. Detective Rolfes worked with the victim to set up the scammer, and ultimately recovered all of the victims funds and arrested and charged the scammer.
Detective Vang worked a string of armed gas station robberies affecting Blaine and other nearby municipalities. Investigative efforts including statements, surveillance, forensic evidence, and search warrants resulted in the identification, arrest, and multiple charges of aggravated robbery for the suspect.
Detective Johann, affectionally known as the “consultant” spent more time coaching and mentoring new detectives than investigating cases, but in his down time he managed to thwart a string of pizza place burglaries that affected multiple stores in the larger metro area. Through search warrants, interviews, and phone records, Detective Johann was able to identify and charge the suspect.
They were kept extremely busy throughout the year working closely with investigations, patrol, and the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force. They assisted the retail unit in the Northtown area with retail theft details. They also deployed specialty surveillance equipment in high crime areas.
The unit completed eight background investigations for alcohol, tobacco, and massage license requests. They also completed the following compliance checks:
PREDATORY OFFENDER REGISTRATION CHECKS
(AHNVCTF)
The Blaine Police Department is in partnership with the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force (AHNVCTF.) The special operations 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 assist with fugitive apprehension. They work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and charge offenders.
The task force has a K9 trained in narcotics detection that is assigned to a Blaine detective. K9 Storm had sniffs resulting in the recovery of 568 grams of meth, 1,351 grams of cocaine, 413 grams of crack, and 6 recovered stolen guns.
COMPLIANCE CHECKS MASSAGE COMPLIANCE CHECKS
DISORDERLY HOUSE DECLARATIONS
The other Blaine detective assigned to the task force has an added role of being assigned to the United States Postal Inspection Service as a task force officer to investigate mail-related crimes.
Emergency Management
Captain Mark Boerboom is the City’s emergency management director. He 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.
Accomplishments from the year include:
Updated the Blaine Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP.) A COOP describes an organization’s essential functions, associated personnel, resources, and processes for protecting and maintaining those functions during an emergency.
Planned and successfully executed the safety plan for the USA Cup Soccer and Veterans Soccer Tournaments at the National Sports Center (NSC), as well as the 3M Open PGA tournament at the TPC Twin Cities Golf Club.
Ongoing coordination with the 105th Entertainment District developers to ensure public safety aspects are addressed during the planning phases.
Coordinated writing a federal grant to replace the 23-year-old mobile command vehicle, which is used by Blaine, Spring Lake Park, Mounds View and SBM Fire. The grant process is continuing into FY25 for approval considerations.
Worked with the Community Standards department to address the aging storm shelters within the six mobile home communities located throughout the city.
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Captain Boerboom is the department’s public information officer and is responsible for organizing data and facts, generating and distributing press releases, and managing inquiries from the press and media outlets.
Mobile Field Force Team (MFF)
The department’s mobile field force team has over 35 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.
The mobile field force team trains two to three times per year on mobile field force tactics, response to civil disorder, crowd control, and less-lethal 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.
Blaine MFF team members are pictured below training on different types of less-lethal munitions.
3M OPEN PGA TOURNAMENT AT THE TPC TWIN CITIES
Awards
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.
Life Saving Award Department Commendation
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.
Spurgeon Award
The Northern Star Scouting Exploring Program Spurgeon Award publicly honors our area’s finest for their career excellence and community service. This award recognizes individuals who are a role model for young people. Chief Podany was awarded the 2024 Spurgeon Award at the Northern Star Scouting’s Community Builder Celebration on October 15, 2024. Chief Podany’s family along with the Mayor, a Councilmember, the city manager, and several police department staff attended the event in support of the Chief.
Officer J. Johnson
Officer Moore
Officer Ramaley Sergeant Stefczak
Officer Quinn
Officer Slavik
Officer Cree
Officer Prokosch
Chief Podany
Officer Klimisch
Promotions
Sergeant Joe Matzke Promoted on 5/20/24
Sergeant Dan Stefczak Promoted on 6/5/24
Deputy Chief Joe Gerhard Promoted on 11/18/24
Retirements
Ben H. Johnson Patrol Sergeant Retired 2/29/2024
26 Years with BPD
Ted Berg Patrol Sergeant Retired 3/28/2024
17 Years with BPD
Karen Hamann Detective Retired 5/31/2024
25 Years with BPD
Staff Roster
Administration
Brian Podany, Police Chief
Joe Gerhard, Deputy Chief
Cara Rand, Executive Assistant
Captains
Mark Boerboom, Emergency Mgmt
Matt Carlson, Patrol
Russ Clark, Special Operations
Joe Gerhard, Administrative Services
Sergeants
Travis Hale, Patrol
Nate Hatanpa, Patrol
Zach Johnson Patrol
Barry Koch, Patrol
Joe Matzke, Patrol
Brad Nordby, Patrol
Mike Rygg, Administrative Services
Joe Sadler, Patrol
Dan Stefczak, Patrol
Wes Villegas, Special Operations
Support Services
Brooke Jacobson, Coordinator
Jen Bedell
AnnMarie Busack
Andrea Jordan
Kelly Karas Evidence
Investigations
Orin Christensen
Paul Estby (retail)
Rebecca Florhaug (Crime Analyst)
Tom Johann
Ben J. Johnson
Nathan Peterson (provisional)
Laura Rolfes (provisional)
James Ross (provisional)
Mike Sommer (provisional DOG)
Tou Vang (provisional)
Brooke Jacobson, Coord.
Melissa Christensen
Community Outreach
Emily Douglas, Coordinator
Brian Wiens, Officer
Victim Services
Andrea Donaldson,* Specialist
Patrol Officers
Carly Ahlers
Mark Allen, SRO
Alex Arnsdorf, SRO
Kyle Augustin
Trent Bachman, SRO
Dale Bernardy, Traffic
Andrew Blilie
Grant Breems
Thomas “TJ” Brownell
Frank Caruso
Jacob Chamberland*
Jacob Cree, Traffic/DWI
Sam Fritz*
Patrick Graves
Jake Green, DOG
Kurt Greene
Kelly Jahnke, K9
Jaden Johnson
Jennah Justen
Samantha Klimisch
Rachel Knott
Abbie Lamberty*
Logan Larson, Retail
Reggie Larson, K9
Caleb Link
Harrison Millington*
ICPOET
Cadets
Joel Alvarado
Mike Marohnic
Jeremy Repinski
Diana Mokey*
Omar Molinos
Alex Moore, K9
Pete Noll
Travis Peterson
Don Plowman
Justin Pohlman
Zachary Prokosch
Mike Quinn*
Joe Ramaley
Joe Ramirez
Aaron Rice
Tommy Satele
Matt Schlenker
Justin Schweigert
Mitchel Singewald
Mike Slavik
Joe Steiner*
Nick Traffie, DOG
Mike Vollman
Jackie Wagner, SRO
Miles Wakumoto
Tim Wessels*
Savana West
Valerie Zeman
Dan Zimmerman, Traffic
Community Service
Officers
Justin Adamski
Hannah Belka
Alexander Blilie*
Mikael Dahlstrom
Vincent Oleson*
Victor Pham
Joseph Vang*
Reserves
Blake Besaw
Timothy Cyson
Craig Dickenson*
Austin Johnson
Hannah Kiefer*
Lori Kretzmann
Nick Long
Paula Mariette*
Jada Mora*
Jacob Reininger*
*New in 2024
Photos are from Department Meeting on 10/7/24
BlaineMN.gov/Police
Acknowledgements
