Annual Events

 The West Hennepin Public Safety Department is transitioning from the traditional Citizens Police Academy format to a new community engagement and open-house model designed to encourage broader participation and greater accessibility for community members.

As a result, the traditional multi-week Citizens Police Academy will not be held in 2026 while the department develops these new engagement opportunities.

We will share additional information about future open houses and community events at a later date. For the most current updates, please visit our Facebook page or check back on our website.

Neighbors across Maple Plain and Independence join annually for Night to Unite.

Night to Unite celebrates and strengthens neighborhoods and community partnerships. 

Night to Unite is designed to:

Get to know one another in your neighborhood, build neighborhood involvement by bringing police and communities together, and bring awareness to crime prevention and local law enforcement efforts! 

View Santa is an annual community event that has been sponsored by the West Hennepin Public Safety Reserves for over thirty-five years on the first or second Saturday in December. It was originally created and presented by the Maple Plain Lions Club prior to the formation of the West Hennepin PSD Reserve Officer Program in 1981, when the reserves adopted the program. 

 The Battle of the Badges is an annual event, held since 2017, that brings together first responders for a friendly competition in support of a great cause. Hosted in a spirited and family-friendly atmosphere, the event features police and fire personnel squaring off in athletic matchups while rallying community pride. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, with all donations going to the Delano Helping Hands Food Shelf. It’s a celebration of service, teamwork, and giving back—one that grows stronger each year.