Police department sees large turnout for first ever community meeting

Talk about it

About 25 residents of Ward 1 came out for the Two Harbors Police Department’s first Community and Police Awareness Meeting last Thursday evening.

Two Harbors resident Debbie Anderson said she was glad to see the number of people who went and said she was attending to keep up with the community. “I want to see and find out what’s going on,” she said.

City Councilor Seth McDonald, who represents Ward 1, said the meeting furthered communication between the police department and Two Harbors residents and allowed the police department to go more “in depth” and clarify policies and procedures. He was proud of how involved his ward was. “I know our ward is pretty active,” he said.

Different issues were brought up during the meeting involving parking by the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, vandalism near the waterfront, and stop sign violations. The police department also updated the public on last year’s city deer hunt as well the new technology they use such as cameras which are on the officer’s person as well as Light Detection and Ranging equipment which clocks drivers’ speeds.

Two Harbors Police Chief Kevin Ruberg said he received many positive responses after the meeting. “It went very well,” he said. “I was happy with the turnout.”

Ruberg said one of his goals when he became chief last year was for the police department to keep developing a close relationship with the community it serves. He said the staff brainstormed ideas on how to do that and these meetings were one of them. Assistant Police Chief Richard Hogenson said the police department opened itself up to Two Harbors.

“We took a risk in putting ourselves out there,” he said.

Ruberg said he was proud of his department and that the force was really “impressed, happy, and proud to be a part” of the meeting. The next meeting will be for Ward 2 residents 5-7 p.m. March 16 at the law enforcement center.

Tags: two harbors, news