About Us

Director Gary Kroells

West Hennepin Public Safety (WHPS) is a joint-powers agreement with the Cities of Maple Plain and Independence for police services. Both cities realized the need for 24-hour police coverage and formed the joint-powers agreement. WHPS was formed and began providing police coverage on January 1, 1979. The City of Independence had two full time officers at the time and became part of WHPS.

The department began with five officers, Jim Franklin serving as the first Director of Public Safety, and has grown to a department of nine officers. Larry Bailey was one of the officers from Independence when the department was formed and he became the second director of WHPS in 1991. After Director Bailey’s retirement in 2000, Ray McCoy was appointed as director until his retirement on April 30, 2014. On May 1, 2014, Gary Kroells was appointed as Director.

West Hennepin Public Safety’s first office was located at 1570 Halgren Road in the City of Maple Plain, in part of the old Halgren Creamery. When the Maple Plain Fire Department moved into its new fire station in 1982, space became available in the Maple Plain City Hall and West Hennepin moved to 1620 Maple Avenue. The department continued to grow with the community and it was evident more space was needed for the department. Early in 2000, a facilities committee was formed to design a new police facility. Construction of the building began in the spring of 2001 at 1918 County Road 90. The police department moved into this space in January of 2002.

Community Policing

Reserve Officer Program

Community policing has been a part of West Hennepin from the start. The department concentrates on providing a high level of service to the citizens of Maple Plain and Independence. Crime prevention, Crime Free Multi Housing, public presentations, partnerships with Orono and Delano schools in drug education and prevention, Citizens Acade

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Reserve Officer Program

In 1980, West Hennepin Public Safety started a Reserve Officer Program. This unit, which consists of volunteers, has greatly augmented the department and aided in the success of many programs. One of the longstanding traditions of this unit is “View Santa” which occurs each December. Each year, reserve officers work many hours of traffic control at parades, triathlons, community events and traffic crashes, provide security for city events and many other tasks. The reserves have also done bike rodeos, worked the BMX track, done house checks and assisted the officers where needed. This has been a valuable part of West Hennepin Public Safety.

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For more information about Reserve Program

Partners

Maple Plain Fire Department

Station Address: 1645 Pioneer Ave, Maple Plain, MN 55359
Mailing Address: 1645 Pioneer Ave, PO Box 97, Maple Plain, MN 55359
Phone: 763-479-0520

West Suburban Fire District

Maple Plain Fire Department

Station Address

259 North Medina St

Loretto, MN 55357

Mailing Address

PO Box 22

Loretto, MN 55357

Phone: 763-479-3036

North Memorial Ambulance

Maple Plain Fire Department

North Memorial Ambulance

North Memorial Health Ambulance Service Headquarters

4501 68th Ave. N.
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

Phone: 763-581-9900

City of Independence

North Memorial Ambulance

City Hall
1920 County Rd 90
Independence, MN 55359
Phone: 763-479-0527
Fax: 763-479-0528

City of Maple Plain

City Hall

5050 Independence St.
P.O. Box 97
Maple Plain, MN 55359
Phone: 763-479-0515
Fax: 763-479-0519