Public Safety Quarterly Report

Quarter 1, 2025

Welcome to the first edition of the Public Safety Quarterly Report! This report marks the beginning of a new initiative to keep our community informed about the latest updates from our Police and Fire Divisions. Each quarter, we will share key statistics, highlight significant events and provide insights into ongoing and upcoming safety initiatives. 

Our goal is to foster transparency, strengthen community engagement and ensure everyone stays informed about the efforts dedicated to keeping our city safe.  

Director's Message: Chief Ryan George

As we reflect on Fridley Public Safety in 2024, we're remined of the incredible work that our police and fire personnel accomplished every day. Our Police Division handled 33,172 calls for service in 2024, which is actually a 13.94% reduction from 2023. This is the first reduction in calls for service since 2012, but we are still about 55% higher in 2023 than 10 years ago. 

The reduction in police calls in 2023 and 2022 can be attributed to a few things. One contributing factor for higher call volume in 2022 was a spate of open 911 lines coming from cell phones due to a software update. Once the issue was resolved, the number of open or abandoned 911 calls was reduced to normal levels. We also made 2,594 less traffic stops in 2023, primarily due to the temporary pause of our grant-funded DWI Officer position during a personnel shortage. 

I believe that the addition of our Embedded Social Worker, Erin, in early-2024 provided the largest impact in reducing calls for service. Although we may never be able to quantify the amount of 911 calls that were prevented, Erin was able to direct high utilizers of police and EMS resources to providers who can more appropriately address their needs. Erin has done a great job of connecting with people in our community who need care, but they don't require emergency services. This allows police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel to focus on higher priority issues. 

In the Fire Division, we have worked toward a staffing model that utilizes a combination of full-time and paid-on-call firefighters. I believe that we have found a balance that best meets the needs in Fridley. In 2024, we added two 24-hour firefighters, and the third 24-hour firefighter was added in January 2025. The full complement of three 24-hour firefighters has been instrumental in addressing staffing challenges and addressing consistency and accountability. 

With a 2025 total Public Safety budget of $11,961,400, we strive to provide the highest levels of Police ($9,932,200), Fire ($2,014,500) and Emergency Management ($14,700) services to our community while still providing exceptional value. Personnel costs take up the bulk of our operating budget, so we are mindful of the impact of creating new positions or increasing wages. Fridley is committed to remaining competitive in the job market in order to attract and retain highly qualified first responders. The renegotiation of our four Public Safety labor agreements has had a significant impact on our budget. Despite the impacts, high quality emergency services are provided to the average Fridley home every minute of every day at an average cost of $1.22 per day. The 100+ employees and volunteers who make up Fridley Public Safety are some of the hardest working people you'll find in a profession that is getting more and more difficult to work in. They are proud to serve a community that has been so incredibly supportive of them. On behalf of Fridley Public Safety, I want to express my gratitude to our community for their unwavering support of our dedicated public safety professionals. 

Police Division

Anoka County Theft Task Force

The Fridley Police Division leads the Anoka County Auto Theft Task Force, a team effort that brings together 11 law enforcement agencies in Anoka County. This task force is funded by grants and works to fight car theft throughout the County.

Fridley's leadership position allows the department to direct resources where they're most needed across the county while maintaining a strong focus on local concerns. The City's dedicated Auto Theft Detective works closely with the Department of Commerce to integrate cutting-edge technology and FLOCK Safety Cameras.

Embedded Mental Health Professional

The Fridley Public Safety Department introduced the Community Resource Officer (CRO) program as a trial program in January. The CRO program pairs specially trained Fridley Police Officers with the department's Embedded Co-Response Mental Health Clinician, Erin Buller, to respond to and work with mental health, social service and community health needs. 

Learn more about this program.

Police Reserve Unit

Fridley Reserve Officers act as a non-sworn support unit to Fridley Police. The unity consists of people from the City and surrounding areas who desire to make their community a better place to live, work and play. Reserve officers serve the City by assisting licensed officers and other City staff. Some aspire to be police officers, but others are community members who desire to support public safety and community engagement.

Explorer Post

The Fridley Police Explorer Program serves as a vital bridge between law enforcement and the community's youth by offering teenagers and young adults hands-on experience in the field of law enforcement. Through regular meetings, training sessions and community service activities, Explores develop leadership skills, learn about police procedures and gain insight into the challenges and rewards of a law enforcement career.

School Resource Officers

The School Resource Officer (SRO) program represents a strong partnership between the Fridley Police, Fridley Public Schools and Metro Heights Academy. These specially trained officers work daily within school buildings, serving as positive role models, mentors and a trusted security presence for students and staff alike. Beyond maintaining safety, SROs build meaningful relationships with young people, helping them see police officers as approachable community helpers.

The Collaboration between law enforcement and educational institutions allows for a quicker response to potential issues and creates a more supportive learning environment. This partnership stands as one of the most effective ways to build lasting community connections that benefits the Fridley community.

Fridley Police Association

The Fridley Police Association (FPA) is a group made up of both sworn officers and non-sworn employees of the Fridley Police Division. 

Police Statistics

Staff Spotlight - Lieutenant Knaeble 

Lieutenant Nick Knaeble has served with the Fridley Police Division for 19 years, taking on many different jobs during that time. He started as a Patrol Officer and from there worked as a School Resource Officer, patrol sergeant, Investigations Lieutenant, Support Division Lieutenant, and now servers at the Patrol Lieutenant. Before joining Fridley, he worked as a Deputy Sheriff in Hennepin County at the Adult Detention Center.

In his current role as Patrol Lieutenant, Lieutenant Knaeble is responsible for overseeing six Patrol Sergeants, 24 Patrol Officers, five Community Service Officers, the Police Reserve Program and the Police Explorer Program. Simply put, if something happens in the community that needs police attention, it falls under Lieutenant Knaeble's area of responsibility. He also manages all the training that officers attend and makes sure their licenses through the Minnesota P.O.S.T. Board stay current.

Outside of work, Lieutenant Knaeble is a family man with a wife and two children who are active in youth sports around the north metro area. He stays busy coaching his own children and also serves a coach for the Centennial high School Junior Varsity boys' hockey team. When he has free time, Lieutenant Knaeble enjoys relaxing at the lake on his pontoon boat, wakesurfing or having lazy days on the water.

Fire Division

Recreational Fire Safety

Now that spring is here, the Fridley Fire Division wants you to enjoy your recreational fires safely. Here's a reminder of Fridley's Recreational fire rules:

• No fires are allowed between midnight and 9 a.m.
• Only clean wood or charcoal may be burned. This means no burning of trash, leaves and brush.
• The ground within five feet of the fire pit or other contained area must be cleared of all combustible material.
• The fire pit or other contained area must be at least 25 feet away from a structure. This distance may be reduced to within 15 feet of a structure when contained in an outdoor fireplace or container approved by the Fire Chief.
• Recreational fires may not be started on windy days when smoke may create a nuisance for neighbors.
• The fire must be attended by an adult from the time it is ignited until it is fully extinguished.
• Fire extinguishing equipment, such as a garden hose, must be readily available to put out the fire.

2024 Fire Statistics

Upcoming Events

Throughout the year, the Fire Division hosts and supports various events. Take a look at some of our upcoming events this next quarter.

Ice Rescue Training

Even without ice on the water, firefighters practiced their ice and cold-water rescue skills at Moore Lake on March 17-18. They practiced using specialized equipment, refining rescue techniques and working as a team to ensure a swift, safe response in frigid water emergencies. This training reinforces their readiness for real-life rescues, where every second counts. 

Fire Explorers

Fire Explorers is designed for young people aged 14-20 who have an interest in pursuing or learning more about the fire service. Fire Explorers learn fire extinguishment, forcible entry, search and rescue and EMS training. They also have opportunities to go on ride-a-longs with Fridley Fire, compete in skills competitions against other explorers and more. 

Inspections

During the first quarter of 2025, 164 initial inspections took place. Of these, 42 required compliance checks for violations. 

Note: This year of the three-year inspection cycle includes a large number of multi-tenant buildings, which make the total number of individual inspections higher than the other two years of the cycle. For example, one building that was inspected had 42 separate units, each counting as an individual inspection.

Learn CPR and Save a Life!

Fridley Public Safety wants to make Fridley a Heart Safe Community. Sign up for one of our upcoming classes to learn CPR. The next classes will be held on Saturday, May 3 and Thursday, June 26.

Learn more

2024 Apparatus Report Cards