Shakopee Snapshot: Spring 2025

PUBLIC SAFETY

Partnering for student success School Resource Officers have ongoing impact

The collaboration between the Shakopee Police Department and the Shakopee School District continues to thrive through our School Resource Program. By fostering open communication, building trust with students and staff, and addressing safety concerns proactively, the School Resource Program plays a vital role in creating a secure and welcoming envi ronment for learning. In the summer of 2024, we celebrated School Resource Officer (SRO) Canon Christianson’s well-deserved retirement. His dedication and service to the Shakopee community, especially his commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of students, staff, and families, have left a lasting impact. At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, we were pleased to announce that Officer Mike Santos would resume Officer Christian son’s duties at Shakopee East Middle School. Officer Santos brings vast experience and a strong commitment to continuing the tradition of excellence in school safety and community engagement. During the school year, the following officers were stationed at their respective schools, with rotations into patrol duties over the sum mer months: ■ Officer Gary Kern was assigned to Shakopee High School ■ Officer Santos was assigned to East Middle School, Sun Path Elementary, Eagle Creek Elementary, Red Oak Elementary, and assistance to the High School as needed ■ Officer Adam Krichbaum was assigned to West Middle School,

Calling all parents! Car seat installation support is available At the Shakopee fire and police departments, we get how exasper ating it can be trying to install a car seat—especially for the first time. That’s why we offer free car seat installation help! responding to critical incidents while fostering a sense of safety and preparedness. SROs achieve this through education, proactive plan ning, and collaboration with key partners, including school adminis trators, teachers, counselors, therapists, students, and their families. Part of the SRO’s role involves engaging with students through class room visits, where they cover a range of topics tailored to different age groups, such as drug and alcohol awareness, first aid, internet safety, bullying, local and federal laws, domestic assault, theft, and personal safety for children. Presentations are customized for various audi ences, spanning from Pre-K to 12th grade, as well as parent groups like those at the Pearson Early Learning Center and PTO groups. In the current school year and beyond, Shakopee SROs are commit ted to continuing their support for students, staff, and families, nur turing these relationships to further strengthen our community. From left, Officers Adam Krichbaum, Officer Mike Santos, and Officer Gary Kern are the current School Resource Officers.

Jackson Elementary, Sweeney Elementary, Pearson Early Learning Center, SACS, and the Tokata Learning Center

While SROs have a wide variety of responsibilities throughout the school day, their primary focus is on preventing criminal activities and

Catch a Sober Ride Home—on us! Get reimbursed for your taxi, Uber, or Lyft The Shakopee Police Department’s Sober Ride Home Program grant funding continues through June 2025. If you’ve been consuming alcohol or cannabis on an eligible holiday

SOBER RIDE HOME PROGRAM S H A K O P E E

This service is available to all com munity members, whether you’re a new or veteran parent, grandparent, or care provider. We have firefight ers and police officers who can walk you through the full installation, give advice about proper car seat usage, or check that your own installation job was completed correctly and safely. Visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/police or www.ShakopeeMN.gov/fire and look under the “Public Outreach” tab to find and submit a car seat installa tion request form.

or event date, catch a free taxi ride home from TNT Taxi or get reimbursed up to $25 for your rideshare cost with Uber or Lyft. Rides are available for the following dates in Shakopee: St. Patrick’s Day —March 15 and 17 Brewhall Bockfest 2025 —March 22 Ales in the Alley —April/May, exact date TBD Memorial Day Weekend —May 23–25 For more information and a full list of eligible dates and locations, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/soberridehome .

12 Shakopee Snapshot