BlaineMN.gov
CityConnect January/February 2022
What’s Inside
Department Spotlight Say Hello to Parks and Recreation..................3
Pictured Left to Right: Chief Podany, Councilmember Paul, Officer West, Officer Nordby, Councilmember Robertson, Councilmember Hovland, Officer Zimmerman, Councilmember Smith, Mayor Sanders, Captain Clark, Officer Molinos, Councilmember Jeppson, Councilmember Massoglia, Officer Schweigert, Officer Pohlman, and Deputy Chief Szykulski
Blaine Police Department Hits Rare Achievement in Policing Community Input Continues for the Northtown Area Study............................5
Law enforcement in general is a field that sees a lot of movement and turnover in staffing. In Blaine the police department has had the good fortune to have many long term employees but the department has still dealt with constantly being in a recruitment mode. In December the department accomplished a rare feat. The department for the first time in recent memory was fully staffed. This meant that all 75 authorized positions for a licensed law enforcement professional were filled. Throughout the years the department has always been able to provide enough officers to patrol the community but being understaffed meant the department often had to pull staff off of special assignments. The retail unit, special operations group, traffic unit, and others have all had to run short at some point to ensure that there were enough officers on the roads for general patrol and response.
Skating Rinks Now Open, Weather Permitting................................................8
In 2022 the department will be right back into recruitment mode as the authorized position allocation will be increasing. But, for a short time this December this rare accomplishment was celebrated by the City. To hear more from Chief Podany on police staffing in Blaine, visit BlaineMN.gov/PoliceStaff.
City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449
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For more information about the Blaine Police Department, visit BlaineMN.gov/Police.
Police K9 Tyrone Passes Away It is with great sadness that we share the news that our newest K9 partner, Tyrone, passed away on December 8, 2021. Tyrone had been ill and was being treated for sepsis and pneumonia. Tyrone took a turn for the worse and was brought to an emergency veterinarian. He was treated with aggressive lifesaving measures at the emergency vet but sadly did not survive. Tyrone just completed his training in November. He was a joy to have around the department and even though we only had a short time with him, he will be greatly missed. Please keep Tyrone’s handler Officer Larson and his family in your thoughts and hearts during this difficult time. Leo Luskey, a longtime friend of the Blaine Police Department, generously donated $15,000 earlier this year to cover the cost of purchasing Tyrone and all the associated training that Tyrone and Officer Larson went through this summer and fall. Tyrone was named after Leo’s hometown of Tyrone, MN. The City also offers our sympathy to Leo and his family as well as they felt the loss of Tyrone.