A look inside the Police Department

The Grand Rapids Police Department was founded in 1891, the year Grand Rapids was incorporated into a city. It is home to over 10,000 people and the commercial hub of Itasca County. The population swells many times over this during the daytime hours and summer months. With its many lakes, the Mississippi River, and is surrounded by public forests, it is a great place to work and play. 

The members of the Grand Rapids Police Department believe that policing is more than just an occupation. It is a calling. The department answered over 10,000 calls in 2017 and prided itself in providing professional, quality police service. 

We also believe that police should be part of the community, not apart from the community. Policing is done with people, and officers work very hard to build one-to-one relationships with community members. Community outreach efforts include a school resource officer program, D.A.R.E., Shop with a Hero, Coffee with a Cop, Special Olympics Polar Plunge, National Night Out, and Citizen Academy, to name just a few.

The department is assisted by a 15 member citizen volunteer Police Reserve unit. It is also one of the first in Minnesota to have a Police Community Advisory Board in which citizens have a real voice as to the manner in which police services are delivered.

The men and women of the Grand Rapids Police Department are very proud to serve our residents. Our beliefs are reflected in our department mission statement:

“Building collaborative relationships to keep our community safe through service, education, and enforcement.”  

To stay informed about upcoming Police Department events, be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GRMNPolice.