Anoka County Board Approves 2026 Law Enforcement Service Contracts With Andover, East Bethel, and Nowthen

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners has approved the annual renewal of law enforcement service contracts for the 2026 calendar year with the cities of Andover, East Bethel, and Nowthen. Under the agreements, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office will continue serving as the primary law enforcement provider for all three municipalities.

The contracts, which run from January 1 through December 31, 2026, reflect a long standing model in Anoka County in which the Sheriff’s Office provides full municipal policing services to cities that do not operate their own police departments. County officials describe the arrangement as a cost effective way for communities to maintain consistent, professional public safety coverage while drawing on countywide resources.

Contract Costs and History

For 2026, the approved contract amounts are as follows:

Andover will pay $4,203,269 for law enforcement services.
East Bethel will pay $1,628,514.
Nowthen will pay $544,855.

Each city has a decades long relationship with the Sheriff’s Office. Andover has contracted with the county for policing services since 1974, East Bethel since 1973, and Nowthen since July 1, 2012. County records indicate these annual contracts are renewals rather than new agreements, continuing established service levels with updated costs.

Scope of Policing Services

All three contracts include 24 hour call and general law enforcement services, ensuring residents have continuous access to emergency response and routine policing. Patrol coverage levels and supplemental services vary by city based on population, geography, and community needs.

In Andover, the largest of the three communities, the contract provides 72 hours per day of patrol services. The city also receives investigative support, including a patrol and crime investigator with approximately 80 hours per week dedicated to investigations. Two full time deputy sheriffs are assigned to community policing, along with a community service officer providing six hours of coverage per day. Seasonal park security is also included, with 20 hours per week from April through September.

East Bethel’s contract provides 36 hours per day of patrol service, in addition to round the clock call and general services. Nowthen receives 12 hours per day of patrol service, along with the same 24 hour call and general law enforcement coverage.

Public Safety Impact

County officials say the continuation of these contracts helps ensure stable and predictable public safety services for residents while allowing the Sheriff’s Office to deploy personnel and specialized resources across municipal boundaries as needed. For the cities involved, contract policing provides access to trained deputies, investigative capacity, and community focused services without the cost of operating independent police departments.

The 2026 approvals reaffirm Anoka County’s long running approach to shared public safety, an arrangement that has shaped policing in several northern metro communities for more than half a century.

MinneapoliMedia