Waite Park Police Department

Waite Park police in Stearns County, Minnesota, staff patrol, investigations and records, with a community outreach specialist who heads crime prevention. Patrol officers answer emergency and non-emergency calls, make preliminary investigations, handle traffic crashes and enforce criminal and traffic law and city ordinances on parking, nuisances, curfew and noise. The department's investigator takes property crimes such as burglary, theft and arson; fraud including financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and embezzlement; business and personal forgeries; and violent crimes including assault, sexual assault, child abuse, prostitution and sex trafficking. Records staff enter reports into the records management system, file them with the proper attorney's office and court, and answer requests for reports, video and audio under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. ch. 13. A K9 program dating to 1986 was revived through fundraising after a gap, and its German Shepherd trained for USPCA certification in apprehension, tracking, narcotics detection and community engagement. Businesses get a key holder directory and returned-check prosecution packets. Residents can join the regional Metro Citizens Police Academy, an evening course on law, use of force, patrol and firearms, and handgun permits to purchase are processed under Minn. Stat. § 624.7131.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Waite Park city, MN has an estimated population of 8,341.