NORTH MANKATO — North Mankato police responded to a record number of calls two years ago.
“In 2023 that number was shattered, as our officers handled 10,004 calls for service,” Police Chief Ross Gullickson reported to the City Council Monday night as he summarized the past year.
But the chief said that in spite of more calls in the growing community, the city is a peaceful place to live.
“We remain a very safe city,” he said.
Gullickson said staffing remains a high priority, including his desire to add a drug task force officer to help deal with rising fentanyl and other drug use issues. The city had initially approved the position, but in the end the money for the position was transferred to pay higher wage and benefit costs for existing police staff.
Council members praised the department with Mayor Scott Carlson saying, “We’re lucky to have what we have, top to bottom.”
Council member Matt Peterson echoed Gullickson’s comment that his officers know he wants them to be always visible in the community.
Residents, Peterson said, know the police officers. “They’re just good people.”
Calls for service last year increased 10% to 10,004 compared to 2022.
The city has 17 officers, 16 reservists and 1.5 civilian staff. Ten years ago, when the city’s population was 13,357, the department had four fewer officers. Since then the city has added 1,046 residents.
Gullickson said the department has five marked squads, two unmarked detective vehicles and an unmarked chief’s vehicle.
The review of the year included the 28 cases of use of force.
“The North Mankato Police Department is committed to being transparent … including the incidents in which our officers must use force,” Gullickson’s report said.
One case of “active aggression” toward an officer involved a Black suspect. There were 11 cases of “active resistance” toward officers, with 10 of the suspects being white and one Black. In the 10 cases of “passive resistance,” seven suspects were white and three Black. The last category involved people who were compliant with officer commands, which included five white and two Black suspects.
The department dealt with 11 sex offenses in 2023, down from 19 the year before. Theft calls were up to 119 last year compared to 93 the year before.
Officers upped their traffic stops to 2,508 compared to 2,040 in 2022.
Among some of the noteworthy incidents in the past year, Gullickson said officers responded to a call about a parked vehicle that had been running for about a half hour. They discovered an unresponsive male in the car. They were able to enter the vehicle and administer two doses of Narcan, used to reverse an opioid overdose. When medical help arrived, they noted oxygen levels in the victim increased from 40% to 70% and the 28-year-old was transferred to the hospital. He was found to have cocaine and fentanyl in his system.
Officers also faced a male who became aggressive and threatened to kill officers with his bare hands and caused a shoulder injury to a medical staff member. The 34-year-old was charged with a felony and misdemeanor.
In another case a 26-year-old man pointed a gun at someone and flashed red and blue lights at people, impersonating a police officer. Officers located and were able to subdue him, finding a replica .22 caliber pistol and meth on the suspect. He was charged with six felonies.
Other notable incidents included two house fires determined to be arson and cases of juveniles assaulting school and group home staff.
Gullickson said the department also collected 339 pounds of pharmaceutical and narcotic waste at the department’s secure drop off and properly disposed of.
He said that later this week the department is set to roll out body-worn cameras for its officers.