The Blooming Prairie Police Department is dedicated to the protection of the city, as well as loyalty to the community. The Police Department consists of 9 sworn Police Officers; 1-Chief of Police, and 8- Patrol Officers. Each Officer is dedicated to protecting and serving our community.
About Us
Each officer is MN P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards & Training) Licensed. Every year our officers have to do continued education approved by the state and need to accumulate a certain amount of credits to stay licensed as Peace Officers. Every officer is also trained as either a First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, or Paramedic. Our officers respond to all types of calls including medicals and fires. The officers are responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic laws within our city. The Chief is responsible for over looking all the officers in the department. The city has police coverage 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Officer Roster
Chief Gregory Skillestad
Officer Dan Peach
Officer Travis Belich
Officer Brad Busho
Officer Rick Ellingson
Officer Aaron Friesen
Officer Nathan Taarud
Officer Joe Martin
The department has three fully equipped squad cars, 3 Ford Explorer's. Each squad includes a traffic radar, audio/video camera system, an AED for cardiac arrest emergencies, along with a laptop computer connected to dispatch to better assist on traffic stops and emergency calls.
Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (MN ICAC)
In 2013, the Blooming Prairie Police Department signed an agreement with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to be an ICAC affiliate agency. Officer Busho is designated as the ICAC Task Force Member. He has gone through extensive training in regards to criminal activities against children on the internet. His duties include the investigation and apprehension of online predators that attempt to commit crimes against children, whether the crime is local or from across the country. Officer Busho has extensive knowledge of the internet, and computers, along with how they are used against our kids. Help keep our children safe, report any suspicious activity to our department, or go online to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to learn more on how to keep our children safe against online predators.
Towards Zero Deaths
The Police Department also participates in the Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths Campaign. This is the time of year where our officers are paid through federal grant money to strongly enforce driving rules. Specifically speed, seat belts, and impaired driving. Our department has been very successful in keeping our roads safe.
Take It To THE BOX
Take it to THE BOX is a grant funded program, in which you can bring in your unused, unwanted prescription medications to be disposed of safely. The program is part of the Steele County Safe & Drug Free Communities Coalition. This program helps prevent prescription drug misuse or abuse.
How to Dispose of Medications
- Leave medication in original container.
- Remove your name & personal information.
- Keep the name of the medication.
- drop medication into the disposal box.
A drop box is located in the Blooming Prairie City Center rear entrance, and at the Steele County Law Enforcement Center in Owatonna, MN. For more information on this great program call the Coalition at (507) 451-5443.
Contact Information
Chief Greg Skillestad
138 Hwy. Ave. S.
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
Non-Emergency (507) 583-7885
Emergency 911
