Ask the Chief

Christmas came early to the Minneota Police Department. For years, I have been borrowing a radar/speed trailer from the MnDOT.

They have been kind enough to allow me to use it when then didn't have it on a job site but I always felt like I was bothering them. Last week all of that changed.

I’m a member of the Minnesota Chief of Police Association and while on their web page I saw a note from the Chief of the West Hennepin Public Safety Department offering a "FREE" speed trailer to someone who could use it.

You can imagine my hope when I saw the word "FREE".

These trailers can cost between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on their quality and I knew that our police department budget would never be able to afford it.

I quickly emailed the Chief and learned that I was the second Chief of the list. Just my luck.... Well, to my surprise I received a call later that day saying that I was the new owner of one slightly used 18-year-old speed trailer.

I was told that it needed a little tender love and care but that it did work. I was surprised at how good of condition it was in and I will only need to do some minor clean up on it and marking it so that it reflects our community.

The gift of this speed trailer is greatly appreciated and it will be used to keep our community safe and to help drivers pay attention to their speed so as to avoid collisions and expensive fines.

It has always been our belief that prevention is far better than enforcement.