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BLAINE, Minn. - The Blaine Police Department has released its final Blaine by the Numbers monthly report for 2025, offering a detailed snapshot of public safety activity during the busy holiday month of December. The data highlights a department balancing proactive enforcement, emergency response, and community-focused policing as winter conditions intensified across the north metro.
According to the report, officers responded to 4,376 total calls for service in December. That figure represents a decline from the 4,790 calls recorded in October, consistent with a seasonal winter slowdown in overall call volume. Even so, the numbers point to sustained operational demands across traffic safety, medical response, and law enforcement activity in a city of more than 75,000 residents.
Traffic Safety and Enforcement
Traffic enforcement remained a major focus as winter weather settled into the region. Blaine officers conducted 1,085 traffic stops during the month and responded to 280 vehicle crashes, a sharp increase from the 199 crashes reported in October. Local weather data from late December showed repeated episodes of freezing rain, snow accumulation, and icy road conditions, factors that law enforcement officials frequently cite as contributors to higher crash rates during winter months.
The department also recorded 31 driving while impaired arrests, reinforcing ongoing efforts to remove impaired drivers from city streets during a period that historically sees increased impaired driving risks due to holiday travel and celebrations.
Overall enforcement activity in December included 127 arrests and 36 disorderly conduct cases, which typically involve disturbances requiring de escalation, mediation, or enforcement action.
Emergency and Community Response
Beyond enforcement, the report underscores the Blaine Police Department’s role as a frontline emergency responder. Officers assisted with 525 medical calls, often working alongside Allina Health emergency medical services to stabilize scenes, provide aid, and support paramedics during medical emergencies.
Community oriented calls also remained a steady part of police work. Officers responded to 53 animal related calls, ranging from loose or injured pets to wildlife concerns in residential areas, particularly in neighborhoods bordering wetlands and open spaces.
Property Crime Trends
Property crime levels remained comparatively low in December. The department reported 9 burglaries citywide for the entire month, a figure that officials say reflects both preventative patrol efforts and broader seasonal trends that often see reduced residential burglary activity during winter.
Month to Month Comparison
A comparison of key indicators from fall to early winter shows shifting patterns in police activity:
- Total calls for service decreased from 4,790 in October to 4,376 in December
- Traffic stops declined from 1,270 to 1,085
- Vehicle crashes increased from 199 to 280
- Medical calls rose from 499 to 525
- Arrests increased from 97 to 127
While overall calls dipped, the rise in crashes, medical responses, and arrests highlights the changing nature of police work as seasonal conditions evolve.
Community Engagement
The release of the December report coincided with several community engagement efforts by the department. During the holiday season, the Blaine Police Department partnered with the Mounds View Police Department on a Border Battle coat drive benefiting the Salvation Army. According to department officials, the initiative nearly doubled donation totals compared to previous years, providing cold weather gear to residents in need.
Data Transparency
The department notes that the monthly report reflects only a portion of its workload. Statistics are drawn from the city’s dispatch system, which assigns one primary code per call. Some incidents involve multiple violations, and classifications may change as investigations continue.
Residents seeking more detailed or historical data can access the full archive of Calls for Service reports through the City of Blaine official website at BlaineMN.gov/callsforservice.
City officials say the monthly summaries are intended to promote transparency, provide context around public safety trends, and help residents better understand the scope and complexity of policing in Blaine.
