Shakopee Snapshot: Fall 2024

PUBLIC SAFETY

CHIEF’S NOTES

Shakopee certainly has become an entertainment destination! We have a lot to be proud of, but we also want to make sure everyone enjoys the “Land of Big Fun” safely. The idea to offer free sober rides home to Shakopee residents came from exploring ways to make holidays safer for our residents. Instead of being reactive and arresting people for drunk driving, Shakopee Police Department decided to take a proactive approach by launching our Sober Ride Home Program in 2017. We partnered with local cab companies to provide residents with free taxi rides home from local bars, or $10 off a ride for non-residents, on five big known drinking nights: Halloween, the night before Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day and the 4th of July. Initially this program was funded by our asset forfeiture fund, meaning no tax dollars are used to support the program. The Sober Ride Home Program garnered incredible support, not only from the community but also from the bar owners and managers. Local establishments raised funds to help support the cost of the rides and promoted the program through their own channels. It quickly became a true “community” program! This initiative was unusual and innovative in that no other law enforcement agency had ever sponsored such a program. Since its initiation, the program has been duplicated by other metro police departments. Knowing other departments are replicating and implementing the program is a confirmation of its remarkable success. To date, 402 free taxi rides have been given to 802 people. As the number of events and entertainment venues increases, so does our desire to ensure our community members all return home safely. In June, we were awarded a $37,000 grant from the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety Safe Ride Program. This will allow us to take this program to the next level and expand it beyond the five holidays previously offered. Participants will be able to upload their rideshare app receipt on the City of Shakopee website to be reimbursed for a ride taken on an eligible holiday or event date. For a full list of eligible holidays and event dates, along with program guidelines, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/soberridehome . Shakopee Police Department’s Sober Ride Home program is truly about keeping our community members safe from drunk driving incidents. We are so excited to reach even more people, increase our impact, and make Shakopee even safer! Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate

Shakopee Police and Fire competed in a friendly relay race through the new Fitness Court stations.

Police take home inaugural ‘Golden Badge of Glory’ The Shakopee Police and Fire Departments squared off this summer in a relay race through the stations of the new Fitness Court at Scenic Heights Park, with the winning team earning brag ging rights and the fictional-but-legendary “Golden Badge of Glory.” The race consisted of a series of exercises, including a kettlebell run, push-ups, step-ups, pull ups, and sit-ups. In a final push, Team Fire tried to close the gap between them and Team Police, but in the end Team Police finished first and was awarded the inaugural Golden Badge of Glory. Both teams also received tiny plastic trophies for their efforts, which they used to enjoy an ice water toast after the race. The event not only highlighted the uses of the Fitness Court, but also the intensity with which it can be used. When even the first responders are sweating, it was a good workout! Thank you to the relay race teams for participating! What was meant to be a one-time event for the Fitness Court Grand Opening may just become a recurring summer tradition.

Fall 2024 13