City of Rochester, MN Police Department

Welcome to RPD’s newest officers! These six were recognized during a formal swearing-in ceremony this week. They completed RPD’s robust in-house training academy and are now paired with mentors for additional training. They’ll graduate to solo patrol in the weeks ahead. Congratulations!

Rochester Police Department honored approximately 50 people at an annual awards ceremony last week. Chief Jim Franklin presented Letters of Recognition, Commendation Awards, Lifesaving Awards, Valor Awards and Exceptional Service Awards. Here are just a few examples of the impressive actions that were recognized: • Saving the life of a toddler who had stopped breathing  • Disarming a man who tried to shoot officers  • Assisting an individual experiencing homelessness create a comprehensive plan for the future Congratulations to all award recipients, and a very special thank you to Powers Ventures for generously supporting this event.

Know someone who should join our team? We're hiring police officers and lateral police officers. https://lnkd.in/gx-ythCn Here is a glimpse at what makes our city and the Rochester Police Department so special...

We grieve with Burnsville's public safety agencies following today's devastating news. We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge and Adam Finseth. “Our folks come to work every day and are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life, but no one expects it to happen. It’s a tragic day. We are all grieving, and we are all trying to understand what happened and why.” Burnsville Fire Chief BJ Jungmann “We go to work every day knowing that it’s a possibility we’ll lose our life to protect yours. And we still show up. It’s something you won’t understand unless you do it.” Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz

Congratulations to two of our law enforcement supervisors for graduating from National Command & Staff College, a graduate-level leadership education program.   Sgt. Jon Swenson and Sgt. Caleb Tesdahl successfully completed the intensive program and received their Certification of Command Staff & Leadership.   The program blended 240 hours of online learning and 80 hours of classroom learning. It included essays, discussion boards, case studies, a final exam and a capstone research project. Both supervisors completed their research project on officer wellness.   Chief Jim Franklin shares, “Rochester Police Department is committed to continuous improvement, and that is reflected in the accomplishments of Sgt. Swenson and Sgt. Tesdahl. Not only do they demonstrate a dedication to individual excellence but also organizational effectiveness.”   The classroom learning took place in Orange Beach, AL and concluded with a graduation ceremony on January 26.

Rochester Police Department (RPD) is launching a new recruitment video to attract police officer applicants and fill anticipated vacancies.   RPD expects to have at least a dozen police officer job openings in 2024 because of upcoming retirements. Like law enforcement agencies across the nation, RPD has seen a significant decrease in police officer applicants the last five years. In 2023, the department received 54 applications compared to 96 in 2018.   Chief Jim Franklin shares, “The recruitment video captures some of what makes our city and the Rochester Police Department so special. It highlights how we take care of our officers so they can provide exceptional public services to our community. We hope that people share the video and help us recruit officers to our team.”             RPD has an authorized strength of 150 sworn officers and currently has a total of 144.

In 2022, overdoses jumped 29% in Rochester, and officers administered Narcan 49 times. We were glad to help with this valuable training course.

We are #hiring! Rochester Police Department believes that partnership and collaboration are essential to achieving trust and legitimacy within our community. We focus on the overall wellbeing and safety of our officers. We train and educate officers, giving them the tools they need to do their job safely. We encourage and aid them in achieving their career goals and interests. We champion officer wellness and offer resources and opportunities to strengthen physical, spiritual and emotional health. Learn more about our officer openings: https://lnkd.in/g3E_9Es5

Congratulations to Lt. Jennifer Hodgman for graduating from the 89th session of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP). The program provides senior police executives with intensive training in the latest management concepts and practices used in business and government. SMIP’s curriculum addresses the challenging issues that demand the attention of today’s forward-thinking law enforcement leaders. The fast-paced, reading-heavy program requires considerable commitment and hard work in class and after class through independent and group study assignments. Classes were held at the Boston University School of Law, where participants learned and resided on campus. Lt. Hodgman joins more than 6,000 graduates since the program’s inception in 1980. No matter your rank or assignment, RPD leadership is committed to your continuing education! Want to be part of a family that puts your training first? Visit https://lnkd.in/gMgd6hYd or email our recruiting team if you have questions, rpdjobs@rochestermn.gov. #Leadership

The Rochester Community and Technical College football team invited Chief Franklin to their first practice of the season. In addition to welcoming players to the community, he spoke about teamwork on and off the field, continuous improvement and growth, and having a champion’s mindset -- things that apply to student athletes, police officers and just about every role in life.