Over the course of 11 days this fall, 319 law enforcement agencies across the state of Minnesota participated in the “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Officers cited 1,805 seat belt violations and 73 child seat violations.
Last week, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office hosted an open house! Residents had the chance to participate in fun activities and get an inside look at the department. Helicopter pilots showcased a helicopter and answered questions, sheriff’s deputies provided free fingerprinting for children, and there was also a “seat belt convincer” – a simulator that allows people to feel a crash at 5 mph in hopes of convincing them to wear a seatbelt.
This weekend, Faith and Blue is hosting a weekend to build trust between police officers and their communities in Waite Park. An Atlanta-based organization, Faith and Blue hosts events across the country to bring faith leaders, activists, and officers together in an effort to build trust.
Spring Lake Park has a new police chief! Following Chief Douglas Ebeltoft’s retirement last month after 32 years of service, Sergeant Josh Antoine was promoted to chief. It’s been previously reported that 12 police chiefs retired in 2020, and another 34 have retired so far in 2021. We know that serving in this role can be an incredibly demanding job, but we are so grateful for individuals like Josh Antoine who continue to step up and serve regardless of the current climate.
Tomorrow night, the Lino Lakes Police Department will host the first night of their “Explorer Program.” This program is for young adults between the ages of 14 and 20 who are interested in learning about law enforcement and might be thinking about policing as a career down the road.