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Coon Rapids, Minn. Although National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was observed Friday, January 9, its message continues to resonate across Coon Rapids today, January 10, as residents and city leaders reflect on the daily work of local officers and the role they play in public safety and community trust.
The Coon Rapids Police Department marked the observance with a public statement noting that “behind every badge is a person who chose to serve others,” and thanking officers for their dedication to keeping the community safe. The sentiment, department officials emphasized, is not limited to a single day.
Mission, leadership, and scope of service
Under the leadership of Bill Steiner, the department operates with a mission to support a safe community while building trust through engagement, professionalism, and compassion.
That mission is carried out by a workforce of approximately 110 personnel, including sworn police officers, community service officers, police reserve officers who serve in a volunteer capacity, and non sworn staff responsible for records, dispatch coordination, and administrative support.
The department provides 24 hour service coverage and responds to more than 50,000 calls for service each year. Those calls range from emergency response and traffic enforcement to welfare checks, public assistance, and proactive community policing efforts.
Community engagement as a public safety strategy
Alongside enforcement responsibilities, the department continues to prioritize outreach and education. Ongoing efforts include school based programming, CPR and AED training, and large scale community events such as Night to Unite, which brings officers and neighbors together around prevention and relationship building.
A central focus this winter is the redesigned 2026 Community Police Academy, which begins Tuesday, January 13, and runs through February 24. Formerly known as the Citizens Academy, the seven week program is designed to move away from lecture heavy formats and toward immersive, dialogue driven learning.
Participants engage in K9 demonstrations, DUI enforcement simulations, and ride alongs with patrol officers. The curriculum also addresses complex topics such as use of force standards, de escalation practices, and the department’s collaboration with embedded social workers during mental health related calls. Sessions are led by different members of the department, giving residents a direct and candid view of how policing decisions are made.
Recent service underscores daily realities
The demands of the job were underscored just days ago, on New Year’s Day 2026, when Coon Rapids officers responded to a fatal collision involving a freight train and a passenger vehicle near the intersection of 119th Avenue NW and Northdale Boulevard. Officers worked alongside the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and BNSF Railway to secure the scene, assist with extrication, and provide emergency aid.
Such incidents highlight the reality that officers are often the first responders during some of the most difficult moments a community experiences.
How residents can continue showing support
While National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day has passed, city officials stress that community support is meaningful year round. Residents can submit formal commendation reports through the city’s website, share positive interactions through appropriate channels, and take part in neighborhood safety initiatives such as Community Watch programs and Night to Unite events later in the year.
As Coon Rapids moves forward from the January 9 observance into the rest of the year, the message from city leaders remains consistent. Public safety is a shared responsibility, strengthened by ongoing trust, engagement, and recognition of the people who serve behind the badge.
