Northfield Police Department, MN

08/25/2026

This morning, Northfield Police officers responded to a report of a man standing on the viaduct bridge near Highway 3 and Greenvale Street who appeared to be considering jumping.

Officer Kruse arrived and was able to establish communication with the man and safely talk him away from the edge. The man had injured himself and was experiencing a mental health crisis. Officer Kruse was able to talk him down and safely to the hospital to receive the help he needed.

Calls involving mental health crises have increased dramatically in our community and have become a frequent part of the work our officers do. These calls can have a deep impact on law enforcement officers, and we recognize the importance of continually evolving how we respond. We continue to work on training, resources, partnerships, and other approaches that help us better serve people experiencing a mental health crisis.

We’re proud of Officer Kruse for his calm approach, patience, and persistence in helping someone through a very difficult moment. This is an important part of what our officers do every day—helping people when they need it most.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, 988 is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

You are not alone. Help is available. ❤️

08/17/2026

🚨 Sechler Park Main Entrance Closed

A train car has derailed near the Armstrong Road entrance to Sechler Park, blocking access to the park.

The car did not tip over. One set of wheels came off the rails. There are no hazardous materials involved and no danger to the public.

The railroad is on scene and will be working for several hours to get the car safely back on the tracks. Sechler Park Rd. off Armstrong Road will remain blocked during this work.

Please avoid the area and give railroad crews plenty of room to work. Use an alternate route to Sechler Park until the entrance is reopened.

08/17/2026

☢️ Routine Radiological Testing in Rice County

Starting today and continuing through September, you may see personnel from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) conducting some testing in the area.

They will be taking routine radiological (radiation) readings at several locations throughout Rice County. Because of our proximity to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, HSEM regularly collects background radiation readings to establish baseline information about naturally occurring radiation in our environment.

These readings are used for comparison purposes if a radiological emergency were ever to occur. This is routine, scheduled monitoring and is not related to any emergency or incident.

HSEM personnel will be carrying Department of Public Safety identification. If you see them conducting this testing, there is no reason for concern—they are simply collecting routine background data.

08/14/2026

🚨 Temporary Phone Service Disruption Tonight

Please be aware that there will be a temporary disruption to Rice County's phone service this evening, Friday, August 14, beginning around 5:00 p.m.

This may affect calls to some non-emergency phone lines, including the Northfield Police Department's non-emergency number, while the phone system is being serviced. The disruption is expected to last approximately 15–30 minutes, although it could last up to an hour.

This will NOT affect 911. 911 service will remain fully operational.

If you need immediate police, fire, or medical assistance at any time, please call 911. If you are trying to reach a non-emergency number during the outage and are unable to get through, please call 911 if you need assistance.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while this maintenance is completed.

08/06/2026

🚔 We’re Hiring!

The Northfield Police Department is looking for a Property & Evidence Technician to join our team!

This civilian position plays a critical role in supporting officers and investigations by managing property and evidence with accuracy and integrity. If you’re organized, detail-oriented, and looking for a rewarding career in public safety, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply here:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/northfieldmn/jobs/5429842/property-and-evidence-technician

Please share this post to help us find the right person to join our team!

With general supervision, performs a variety of routine clerical, professional and technical administrative and field work involving the detection, collection, preservation, receipt, storage, and release of property and evidence in accordance with State law as a non-sworn (civilian) police employee.

08/04/2026

🚓 It's Night to Unite! 🚒

Tonight is one of our favorite nights of the year! We'll be out visiting neighborhoods all across Northfield, meeting residents, catching up with old friends, and yes... showing everyone that the Police Department will be the coolest visitors of the evening.

We know the Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service will be out too. They'll probably bring a shiny truck, let the kids honk the horn, and try to soak up some attention. That's okay... we'll bring the squad cars, stickers, high-fives, and our winning personalities. 😎

If the firefighters make it to your party before we do, don't worry—we're probably still at the last neighborhood taking selfies, answering questions, and accepting the applause.

Thank you to everyone who hosts a Night to Unite gathering. Events like this are a great reminder that strong neighborhoods and strong relationships help make Northfield a safer community.

We'll see you tonight!

P.S. Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service... all kidding aside, thanks for being great partners in serving our community. We know being the second-favorite responders in town is still a pretty big honor. 😄

07/31/2026

🚨 Scam Alert 🚨

We’ve been made aware that several Community Resource Bank customers have received scam phone calls from individuals pretending to be bank employees. The callers are attempting to trick customers into providing personal and banking information.

Please remember: Community Resource Bank, or other banks, will never call and ask for your online banking password, debit card PIN, security code, or other sensitive account information over the phone.

If you receive a call that seems suspicious:
-Hang up.
-Contact your bank directly using a phone number you know is legitimate—not one provided by the caller.
-Never share passwords, PINs, one-time verification codes, or other personal financial information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.

Scammers are becoming increasingly convincing and can even make it appear as though they’re calling from a legitimate phone number. When in doubt, hang up and call the bank yourself.

Please consider sharing this post to help protect your friends, family, and neighbors. A few moments of caution can prevent a significant financial loss.

If you believe you’ve provided information to a scammer or have become a victim of fraud, contact your financial institution immediately.

07/22/2026

A huge thank you to Hosanna for once again hosting the Community Picnic recognizing public safety. We truly appreciate your generosity, hospitality, and commitment to bringing our community together.

Thank you as well to everyone who came out to spend the evening with us. We enjoyed the conversations, meeting new faces, reconnecting with familiar ones, and sharing a fun evening together.

As for the bounce house races… well, sometimes you let the little kids win. Other times… they legitimately beat you. 😅 We’ll let you decide which one happened here.

We’re happy to report that no officers were injured during the making of this video… only a little pride.

Thank you for making our community such a great community to serve.

07/18/2026

Do you know us? After a visit to the police department for some water and snacks, we’re patiently waiting at the Castle Rock Kennels to be claimed. We were found Lincoln St and Highland Ave.

07/17/2026

We're seeing more electric bikes, e-scooters, and e-motos on our streets than ever before. They can be a great way to get around, and we love seeing people outside enjoying the community, but they're also one of the most misunderstood types of vehicles on the road.

This week has been a sobering reminder that riders on two wheels are especially vulnerable. A young bicyclist tragically lost his life in Farmington, and this morning an adult rider was seriously injured in an e-bike crash in Dundas. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these incidents.

While these crashes involved different types of bicycles and riders, they remind us that safety matters regardless of age.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all electric two-wheeled vehicles are "just e-bikes." They're not.

Some are legally classified as e-bikes. Others are electric motorcycles (often called e-motos) that may require registration, insurance, a motorcycle endorsement, and equipment that many people don't realize is required. Where they can legally be ridden also varies depending on the type of vehicle.

This isn't just an issue for kids—adults ride these vehicles every day. However, many parents are purchasing them for their children without realizing exactly what they're buying or the laws that apply.

Before making a purchase, ask:
✅ Is this actually an e-bike or is it an electric motorcycle?
✅ How fast does it go?
✅ Where is it legal to ride?
✅ Does it require registration, insurance, or a license?
✅ Is the rider wearing a properly fitted helmet?

We've attached our E-Bike & Electric Ride Guide to help explain the differences between e-bikes and e-scooters, along with Minnesota laws and important safety information.

Our goal isn't to discourage people from enjoying these vehicles. We want riders and families to understand the differences, know the law, and make informed decisions that help prevent serious injuries.

Know before you buy. Know before you ride. Ride safely.