Shakopee Snapshot: Summer 2024

PUBLIC SAFETY

CHIEF’S NOTES

Shakopee has been proudly served by community volunteers since the fire department

was established in 1883—141 years of dedication from your neighbors protecting your homes and businesses. And, the City of Shakopee has changed tremendously since the department started in 1883. In recent years, the Shakopee Fire Department has slowly transitioned from an all-volunteer model to one with limited full time firefighters staffing one station during weekdays, while the traditional “volunteers” sign up for shifts to cover one of our two stations on weeknights and weekends. We completed a professional Fire Department Evaluation study in early 2024 that recommended several more changes to ensure a professional response to fire and rescue calls with a predictable, reliable, and highly-trained crew now and in the future. Step one of the study recommendations included staffing Fire Station 1 with a 24-hour full-time staffing model augmented with our current part-time firefighters. This step has been approved by the City Council and is underway now. Another major step for the future of the department was hiring our next full-time Fire Chief who has experience with many of the recommendations of our study, including experience with full-time staff working 24-hour shifts. We are proud to announce that our next fire chief is Mike Nelson, an area resident who comes to Shakopee with vast experience in public safety. Nelson worked briefly for the City of Shakopee in the late 1990s in our Public Works Department. His fire career began as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Savage. He has career firefighter experience with South St. Paul Fire Department, Rochester Fire Department, West St. Paul Fire Department and was part of the transition team as West St. Paul and South St. Paul Fire Departments merged to form the South Metro Fire District. It’s been an absolute honor for me to serve as the City of Shakopee’s Interim Fire Chief for the past 11 months. Our team has strived to make a lot of positive changes to help ensure the building blocks are in place for the new City of Shakopee Fire Department model, and I am confident Nelson is the right fit to lead this department into its next era of proud service to the Shakopee community. Shakopee Interim Fire Chief Michael Scott

Community members and furry friends alike enjoyed Night to Unite in August 2023.

Get to know your neighbors Register your Night to Unite party for Aug. 6 You’re invited to join in a night of community building on Tuesday, Aug. 6, as neighbors from all around the city host Night to Unite block parties in celebration of the strength of our community. Night to Unite is an annual summer celebration dedicated to supporting relationships among community members and public safety agencies like the Shakopee Police and Fire Depart ments. For residents of Shakopee, it’s an opportunity to put together a neighborhood gath ering, turn on the front porch lights, get to know one another, play games with the kids, and enjoy a few hot-off-the-grill favorites. Residents are asked to register their Night to Unite block parties at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/night tounite beginning June 1 through late July. When registering, residents can indicate whether they want representatives of the City, including police and fire personnel, to visit their party. The Shakopee Police Department encourages participation in this great celebration of com munity, crime prevention, and strong police/community partnerships. Your event does not have to be large or elaborate. It can be as simple as having a conversation in your neighbor’s yard or asking residents on your block to show up with a lawn chair and a cooler of snacks. The important thing is to talk to your neighbors and plan to enjoy a night of community together. Night to Unite is an effective, inexpensive, and enjoyable program that promotes neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships in the fight for a safer nation. The benefits your neigh borhood will derive from Night to Unite will most certainly extend well beyond the night. Questions? Contact Shakopee Crime Prevention Unit at 952-233-9441 or police@ShakopeeMN.gov .

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