Oakdale Police Department

Residents of Oakdale, Minnesota, are asked to dial 911 for every police request, emergency or not, and dispatchers decide whether an officer should respond right away or as a routine call. The Oakdale Police Department's patrol division is the backbone of operations, working day, afternoon and overnight watches of 11.5 hours that cover proactive patrol, lifesaving emergencies and crimes in progress. Investigators take cases ranging from fraud and theft to assaults, sex crimes and child abuse, aided by an evidence technician. Part-time community service officers in light blue shirts, who are not licensed peace officers, patrol parks, enforce parking, handle animal complaints and support patrol and administration. The department's story began in 1968, when the village hired its original officer, who bought surplus green uniforms that another department had retired; the department changed to navy blue after the city hired a police chief in 1969. Crime victims are told they may seek reimbursement for violent-crime losses, ask that identifying data be withheld and take part in prosecution, including restitution requests, under Minn. Stat. ch. 611A. Animal calls are handled by officers and community service officers with help from Companion Animal Care and Control and the Animal Humane Society.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Oakdale city, MN has an estimated population of 28,109.