Shakopee Police Department 2024 Annual Report

TRIBAL LIAISON

By Detective Jeff Wyckoff

The Shakopee Police Department and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) have built a strong partnership through the tribal liaison program established in 2013. This program has fostered trust, enhanced communication, and strengthened the working relationship between the two organizations. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to mutual respect and open communication to address community needs. In addition to the close working relationship with the SMSC, the department’s tribal liaison has working relationships with the tribal liaison from the Prior Lake Police Department and the SMSC Conservation Officers. In 2024, the Shakopee Police Department responded to 236 calls for service to assist the SMSC. SMSC hosted its annual Wacipi (Pow Wow) August 16–18 at the SMSC Pow Wow grounds. The event had great weather for all three days, and thousands of people locally and from across the country attended. SMSC also hosted a winter Wacipi (Pow Wow) at the Hocokata Ti Cultural Center on February 3 and 4.

The tribal liaison program has been well received by both the Shakopee Police Department and SMSC members and staff. Detective Jeff Wyckoff has been the department’s tribal liaison since August 2020.

PROACTIVE POLICING

By Sergeant Josh Davis

The Proactive Policing Unit (PPU) is a specialized plain-clothes unit focused on addressing priority criminal activity in the community. Comprised of officers trained to tackle street-level crimes, PPU plays a vital role in apprehending wanted criminals, assisting in identifying suspects, and addressing the most urgent criminal threats such as retail theft, violent crimes, mail theft, and burglaries. The team’s proactive approach allows them to stay ahead of emerging criminal trends, providing effective responses to evolving public safety challenges. In 2024, one of the PPU’s most notable cases involved a known burglar operating in the Shakopee area. After months of investigation, the unit obtained a search warrant and placed a tracking device on the suspect’s vehicle. This led to the successful apprehension of the primary suspect in a residential

neighborhood, in coordination with patrol officers. The suspect was later convicted of two counts of first-degree burglary. Throughout the year, PPU made significant contributions to public safety, issuing 116 citations, 68 arrests, and 25 search warrants. They also provided crucial support in nearly a dozen cases from neighboring jurisdictions, helping solve crimes by identifying suspects and sharing intelligence. In addition to their investigative work, PPU recovered a variety of illegal substances including methamphetamine, MDMA, fentanyl, cocaine, illicit mushrooms, and illegal prescription pills.

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