The Brooklyn Center Police Department has been strategically organized to provide the community with the most effective services and consists of the following divisions: Administration, Community Services, Investigations, Patrol, Records and Property. In an effort to explain the organizational structure of our agency, we created an organizational chart.


Administration Division

The chief of police and administrative assistant comprise this division. This division coordinates and administers all divisions in the police department by implementing strategy in crime prevention and reduction. This division acts as liaison to other City departments, members of the community, as well as other criminal justice agencies. 

This division is comprised of one school resource officer, one crime analyst, one crime prevention specialist, one multi-cultural community liaison and one commander.

The Community Services Division consists of a Commander, Crime Analyst, Crime Prevention Specialist, and the Multi-Cultural Liaison.  Our mission is to Protect and Serve in a manner that preserves the public trust.  

Juvenile Crime Unit

The Juvenile Crime Unit consists of a juvenile enforcement officer, a school resource officer, and a civilian case manager. They are responsible for case management and referrals for juvenile offenders.

Street Crimes Unit

The Street Crimes Unit consists of one Sergeant and three highly motivated officers. This unit works independent from patrol and focuses on targeting known offenders and problem areas. This unit works in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and assists other units within the Brooklyn Center Police Department as needed. 

Crime Analyst

Nate Pogorely has been a Crime Analyst with the department since 2008. His primary duties are to perform systematic analysis for identifying and analyzing patterns and trends in crime and disorder, and to develop suspects or connections to criminal activity throughout the metro area.

For more information on Crime Analysis please contact Nate Pogorely by email or (763) 503-3162.

Crime Prevention Specialist

Becky Boie has been with the Brooklyn Center Police Department since May of 2002. During that time, she became a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist and Certified Crime Free Multi Housing Trainer. 

The Crime Prevention Specialist is responsible for implementing and maintaining community based crime prevention strategies. The Crime Prevention Specialist also plans, coordinates and oversees the department’s crime prevention related activities and duties. 

For more information on Crime Prevention please visit the Crime Prevention Page or contact  Becky Boie by email or (763) 503-3272.

Multi-Cultural Liaison

A Community Liaison for the Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP) that is assigned to the Brooklyn Center Police Department and offices out of our location. This partnership consists of four major activities: Community Input and Training, Cultural/Community Awareness Training for Law Enforcement, Creation of Community Liaison Officers and Creation of Multi-Cultural Oriented Police Cadets. For more information please contact JCPP Supervisor Monique Driver at (612) 919-9969.

Community Services Commander Gabler oversees this Division and has been serving the Brooklyn Center Community since 2005. As an patrol officer, Commander Gabler served as an Explorer Adviser, Field Training Officer, Assistant Team Leader for the EOU Team and was assigned to the Street Crimes Unit.  Commander Gabler was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2010 and also served as the department's Training Sergeant.  Rick holds a Master's Degree in Public Safety and Law Enforcement Leadership  from the University of St. Thomas and also has a Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement from Metropolitan State University where he received the Outstanding Student Award.

Investigations is comprised of six detectives, a drug task force officer, a violent offenders task force officer and an investigations commander. This unit provides centralized investigative resources to the Department. 

This unit provides follow-up investigation to criminal incidents and major cases, and then presents cases for charging to the city or county attorney. The Brooklyn Center Police Department has five investigators specializing in specific crime types as well as general case investigations.

Violent Offender's Task Force Officer
In addition, the Division has one member who participates in the Violent Offender’s Task Force (VOTF) partnering with other Hennepin County agencies. This task force targets violent offenders and assists with crimes of violence.

Auto Theft Prevention Officer
Lastly, with funding from a grant, the Division has an Auto Theft Prevention Officer who specializes in auto theft related crimes. 

Investigations Commander Flesland oversees this division and also serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO). He grew up in neighboring Brooklyn Park and after graduating from Park Center High School spent several years in the US Navy, both as an enlisted sailor and as a commissioned officer. Commander Flesland was hired by the Brooklyn Center Police Department in August 2000 and began working as a patrol officer. In January 2004, Commander Flesland was promoted to Detective and worked in that role until being selected for and promoted to Sergeant in September 2010. As a Patrol Sergeant, Garett spent most of his time on dog watch working at night, although he did spend a little time as a Training Sergeant as well as a day watch Sergeant.

The Patrol Unit consists of 26 sworn police officers, six sergeants, ten part-time community service officers, one cadet, and one commander. Uniformed patrol officers respond to calls for service of both an emergency and non-emergency nature. Likewise, this unit conducts pro-active patrol in residential and commercial areas to deter crime. Community service officers (CSOs) and Cadets are a part of the Patrol Unit and perform police-related duties that do not require a sworn police officer (animal complaints, on-street parking issues, etc.).

The largest and most visible arm of the police department, officers of the patrol division respond to calls for service from the public, investigate traffic accidents, and keep the peace. These officers conduct pro-active patrols, traffic and criminal enforcement.


Sector Sergeants
The city is broken down into five geographical areas. Each area is assigned a sergeant to monitor and oversee crime trend identifications and our department’s responses. To see the Sergeant for your area, please click on the link below.
Sector Sergeant Map   


Police Explorer Program
Police Explorers is a program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20 years of age. The Explorer program teaches members various aspects of Law Enforcement as well as core values of Teamwork, Dedication, and Service to others. If you are interested in Law Enforcement as a career or want to learn more about our program contact us for more information. 

In order to join the post, you must: 
• Have completed 8th grade 
• Be 14-20 years old 
• Submit an application to join 
• Pass a background check 
• Maintain a C average or better 

Please visit the Youth Services page for more information or contact Officer Mackenzie Smith at 763-503-3213 or .   


Police Ride-Alongs
Ride-along are also available for citizens of the city with a legitimate interest in law enforcement, and who complete a background check. Ride Along Application

Patrol Commander Gruenig oversees the division. Commander Gruenig has been with the Brooklyn Center Police Department since 2002 and throughout his career he has held several positions. Commander Gruenig has served as a patrol officer, Northwest Metro Drug Task Force officer, Violent Offender Task Force officer, Emergency Operations Unit (EOU) member, assistant team leader, Sergeant, Field Training Officer, and commander in charge of EOU. Commander Gruenig has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from South Dakota State University.

This division is formally referred to as the Support Services Division consists of seven records technicians, one property technician, and one Support Services Manager. The records technicians are responsible for the processing, dissemination and public release of all police reports. The records technicians issue gun permits, release vehicles impounds and maintain accurate records of stolen items and missing persons in a computerized national database. The property technician’s duties consist of the inventorying, storage and destruction of property seized by the police department. 

Police Reports 
Requests for police reports forms can be mailed in or submitted in person Monday-Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. The cost of a police report is 25 cents per page. You will be notified by phone when your report is ready. Please contact the records division during business hours if you have further questions. 

Data Request Form

Gun Permits 
Gun purchase permit applications can be obtained on-line or in person Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Once your application has been submitted the police department has 10 days to process or deny the permit. To obtain a permit to carry please contact the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department. 

Gun Permit Application Form



To view police auction items go to:  www.propertyroom.com