Crime & Safety

Get to Know the Minnetonka Police

Locals can get an in-depth look at the inner workings of the Minnetonka Police Department.

Minnetonka residents who want to learn more about how their local police department works can now sign up for the 2011 Minnetonka Police Citizen’s Academy. The program, run by the , will give locals an in-depth look at the inner workings of the Minnetonka squad.  

According to Nicole Nelson, a crime prevention analyst with the Minnetonka Police Department, the academy will help citizens understand the challenges of local law enforcement, enhance public safety, reduce crime and add to the police relationship with the community.

The Police Citizen’s Academy will meet on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. throughout September and October. The program, held at the Minnetonka Community Center complex, will consist of both classroom lectures, hands-on experiences and a tour of the police department. Participants in the academy are also eligible to receive a ride-along with a Minnetonka police officer.

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Topics that will be touched on during the eight-week academy, will include:

  • Police recruiting and training
  • Crime scene investigations
  • Emergency response team
  • Community service officers
  • Computer forensics
  • Drug task force
  • School resource officers
  • Police canines
  • Crime lab
  • Crime prevention
  • Crime analysis
  • Traffic unit
  • Use of force
  • Police dispatch

The academy is free, according to the Minnetonka Police Department, with the intention of educating citizens about the daily operations and special training police officers receive and use to perform their duties.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To be eligible, one must be at least 21-years-old, a resident of Minnetonka and be willing to submit to a basic criminal background check. For more information on how to apply, click here.


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