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Independence police report 218 local calls in October; View Santa set for Dec. 7
Summary
Chief Gary Kroells reported 3,855 incidents through October, including 218 in Independence and introduced newly promoted Sergeant Ebling. He highlighted staffing plans and an embedded social worker for follow-up on mental-health calls and reminded residents the annual View Santa event will be Dec. 7, 2024.
Chief Gary Kroells delivered the West Hennepin Public Safety monthly report for October, saying the department handled 3,855 incidents through October, including 218 calls in Independence and 121 in Maple Plain. He introduced Sergeant Ebling, who was promoted Nov. 1.
Kroells previewed the department's community holiday event, saying View Santa will return on Dec. 7, 2024, beginning at 3:30 p.m. with stops through the neighborhoods and a final stop at Veterans Park in Maple Plain at about 4:45 p.m.
On staffing, Kroells said the department is working toward a full complement and expects an 11th officer to start after completing schooling at Hennepin Technical College. He also addressed mental-health response, saying the department is seeing more people willing to report problems and that officers are using de-escalation techniques. "We have an embedded social worker when we have a mental health call that a social worker will follow up on after the call," Kroells said.
The report included congratulations to Orono High School on a swimming state championship. The council did not take formal action on the report; it was received as information.
