Police Chiefs Association Honors Hopkins With Community Policing Award

The award recognizes departments that partner with others in the community to proactively address crime.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police and Cisco Systems has honored the Hopkins Police Department with the 2012 Community Policing Award. The award recognizes law enforcement agencies worldwide for outstanding community policing, a philosophy that’s about working with local partners to proactively address the conditions that lead to crime.   Hopkins was the winner for communities with populations smaller than 20,000 people. “This isn’t a Police Department award; this is a community award,” Police Chief Mike Reynolds said, noting the support the department has received from local nonprofits, churches and other city departments. Bob Jacobson, New Brighton’s public safety director, specifically mentioned Hopkins’ Operation Recess …

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Man Thought to Have Drugs Leads Hopkins Police on High-Speed Chase

Police say the man fled during a traffic stop when they smelled marijuana in his SUV and found he had a suspended license.

Hopkins Police on a drunken driving detail with Hennepin County accuse a Minneapolis man of leading them on a high-speed chase while pitching marijuana baggies out of his SUV window. Officers reported that they smelled marijuana when they stopped a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 30-year-old Lamar Javis Burgess in Minneapolis, near Dowling Avenue and Interstate-94, according to charging documents written by Police Sgt. Michael Glassberg. A check on the driver’s license showed that Burgess has a suspended driver’s license. Police said Burgess appeared very nervous and became argumentative, repeatedly stating that his license was not suspended. When the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle, Burgess shifted into drive and accelerated away, …

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Hopkins Officers Visit Local School Playgrounds

‘Operation Recess’ builds bonds between police and students at Alice Smith and Eisenhower elementary schools.

On Wednesday, Hopkins Police Officer Mike Johnson found himself in a hot pursuit. He was alone, outnumbered and up against a particularly energetic crowd. Johnson wasn’t chasing a criminal gang, though. It was just an enthusiastic game of tag at Eisenhower Elementary. He was at the elementary school as part of a program called Operation Recess that brings Hopkins police and elementary students together on the playground. “They’re really excited,” Johnson said. “As soon as I parked outside and came in, they started running.” Operation Recess was sparked by a $20,000 MetLife grant the Police Department received in September. Police Chief Mike Reynolds challenged his officers to come up with the best way to use the money to help Hopkins youth…

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Hopkins Considers Cutting City Dispatch Center

Police Chief Mike Reynolds estimates the cut could save the city $300,000 per year.

Hopkins’ city manager and emergency services are backing a plan that would eliminate the city’s dispatch center and transfer dispatch responsibilities to Hennepin County—saving a few hundred thousand dollars in the process. On Tuesday, City Manager Mike Mornson, Police Chief Mike Reynolds and Fire Chief Dale Specken asked council members to consider an arrangement that could potentially move Hopkins to the Hennepin County system at the start of 2013. “It just makes sense, from the money aspect of this decision, to look at Hennepin County dispatch,” Reynolds said. “It’s a substantial decrease there for our citizens.”   Economies of scale Hopkins is the smallest community in Hennepin County to have its own dispatch center. Because of that …

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(VIDEO) Two New Officers Join Hopkins Police Department

Matthew Gangelhoff and Kevin Hegyi took their oath of office Tuesday.

Hopkins has two new faces in the Police Department. Matthew Gangelhoff and Kevin Hegyi took their oaths of office at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The new police officers were chosen from among 175 candidates who applied for the vacant positions.

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Hopkins Police Captain Reflects Back On Lengthy Career

Capt. Tony Hanlin was with Hopkins for 34 years before he retired at the end of 2011.

Police Capt. Tony Hanlin saw a lot of changes during a career that spanned more than three decades. Hanlin joined the Hopkins Police Department right after Minnesota embraced new police standards and has watched both Hopkins and the law enforcement profession undergo momentous transformations. Hanlin retired at the end of 2011. Before stepping down, he sat down with Hopkins Patch to reflect back on the changes he’s seen over the years. *** Hopkins Patch: First of all, you’ve been with Hopkins for 34 years— Capt. Tony Hanlin: Right, I started with the (police) reserves in January of 1977. Hopkins Patch: What made you decide to start with the reserves, or start pursuing that path? Hanlin: I’d already graduated, gotten my degree in law …

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(VIDEO) Hopkins Officer Presents Flag Flown Over Afghanistan

Mike Johnson is also a senior airman who served as a medic at Camp Leatherneck/Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province for six months.

Mike Johnson isn’t just a Hopkins police officer. He’s also a senior airman who served as a medic at Camp Leatherneck/Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province for six months. While Johnson was there, he spoke with members of an Air Force Pararescue team. The team carried a flag on a combat rescue mission in which they saved a person. On Tuesday, Johnson presented that flag to Hopkins as thanks for supporting him while he was deployed.

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(UPDATED) Law Enforcement Still Searching For Missing Boy

Dominque McCaskel ran away from his caretaker Sunday afternoon.

(UPDATED: 10:12 a.m. Nov. 14) Law enforcement agencies are still looking for a missing 14-year-old Victoria boy who ran away from his caretaker Sunday afternoon near Blake Road and Excelsior Boulevard, said Blair Anderson, Carver County's chief deputy. Dominque McCaskel, who lives at a Carver County residential facility, has limited mental capacity and is considered a vulnerable juvenile, according to a Hopkins Police Department news release. He ran away from his caretaker's vehicle at about 3:35 p.m. Sunday while in Hopkins. McCaskel is listed as a runaway. Law enforcement agencies have checked common places and spots that are known to him. McCaskel is black, 5 feet, 6 inches and about 145 pounds. He was wearing a long-sleeved striped …

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(Video) Police Break Bread, Cultural Barriers With Somali Community

The Somali Culture event was designed to increase communication and understanding between immigrant communities and police.

Hopkins' Somali residents came to Oakes Park Sunday afternoon for a cultural event co-sponsored by the Police Department and the Joint Community Police Partnership. A few hundred people turned out despite the rain for music, dancing, face-painting and Somali meat and vegetarian dishes.

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Police blotter

Blotter: May 2 through May 8

A weekly selection of incidents drawn from Hopkins police files

Monday, May 2 8:40 a.m. — Police received a report that someone pried open a door at The Paint Genie and stole several items. 6:01 p.m. — Someone stole a 1997 Dodge Ram that was parked at Hopkins Tire & Auto Service.   Tuesday, May 3 5:33 a.m. — A man told police that he left his vehicle parked on Mainstreet after drinking at the Wild Boar the night before and that it was missing when he went to pick it up.   Friday, May 6 9:27 a.m. — A resident told police that someone took his dog during a party the night before. A man suspected of taking the dog allowed officers to search his apartment, but officers could not find any evidence of the dog. 6:10 p.m. — Wells Fargo reported that a customer tried to use a fake ID to get cash from a check. …

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