Patrol Division

The Brainerd Police Department Patrol Division provides 24 -hour service to the community 365 days a year. The Patrol Division is the largest division within the department. Patrol officers are the public face of the department in that they are uniformed, drive marked squad cars, and are the most common point of contact for citizens. The duties of a patrol officer are varied and can range from responding to medicals or aiding a parent with an unruly child, to serious assaults and major incidents.

A patrol officer's duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Responding to calls for service
  • Actively patrolling neighborhoods, business districts, industrial areas, and potential problem areas
  • Enforcing traffic laws
  • Conducting follow-up investigations
  • Writing detailed reports
  • Court testimony
  • Attending community events on behalf of the department
  • Participating in targeted traffic enforcement programs including Night Cap and Safe and Sober

Staff


The Patrol Division is made up of 14 officers who are supervised by 4 sergeants. Officers and sergeants work 10-hour shifts. The patrol officer's level of experience ranges from 26 years to less than six months. The average years of service in the patrol division is approximately 10 years.

Equipment


Patrol officers are provided with state of the art equipment to aid in their effort to protect and serve the community. Some of the equipment includes patrol cars equipped with LED light bars, in-car digital audio/video recording systems, Toughbook mobile data computer system, defibrillators, X26 Tasers, digital cameras, and digital voice recorders.

Training


The Brainerd Police Department maintains a high level of continuing education in various areas including, but not limited to, current and developing crime trends, professional standards, physical fitness, law enforcement technology and statutory updates. The continuing education is completed through department training, online courses, and state and federal training opportunities. Several officers within the department hold training credentials in various disciplines such as firearms, defensive tactics, and emergency vehicle operation.