After Years of Staffing Struggles, Golden Valley Police Chief Sees Progress
After spending the last several years without enough staff to cover every shift, the Golden Valley Police Department has finally bolstered its ranks, thanks to a combination of incentives and advancement opportunities.
As recently as a couple years ago, Golden Valley was down to five sworn officers, even though it was budgeted for 31.
To help fill that void, Golden Valley contracted with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, as well as an outside firm to help with investigative work. But now, things are finally turning around.
“To be in a space better than what it was when I came in the door in 2022 is a lot more comfortable to be in,” said Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green.
Green came into the department during a crisis period with retirements, officers leaving the profession and internal issues.
“There was a lot of people, even in the law enforcement industry, telling people ‘don’t go to Golden Valley, they’re going to fold,'” Chief Green said.
Yet instead of folding, they slowly but surely added to their ranks.
The department is budgeted for 31 sworn officers and they’re now at 15. Chief Green says that now mostly allows Golden Valley officers to cover the day shift rather than Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputies.
This happened, in part, due to $10,000 bonuses offered to help lure officers from other departments (also known as “lateral officers”).
Sgt. Andrew Tolbert came to Golden Valley in April.
“I was an officer in Brooklyn Park and there was an opportunity here for some sergeant openings, so I decided that’s what was best for me at the time and made the jump over here,” said Tolbert.
But it’s not just lateral officers joining Golden Valley.
Abby Gerhardson became a sworn officer a year and a half ago after initially serving as a community service officer for the city. She’s now one of the officers working the day shift, and she’s also authorized to fly the department’s drone.
Abby Gerhardson became a sworn officer with the Golden Valley Police Department a year and a half ago. She previously worked as a community service officer with the city.
“Everybody’s morale is, I saw it when it was kind of in the dumps,” Gerhardson said. “And it’s just not like that anymore.”
Meanwhile, Green hopes to be able to cover the day shift entirely with Golden Valley officers by the end of October.
“The community has been very supportive while we’ve been going through the transition,” he said.
The $10,000 incentive to hire lateral officers runs through the end of the year, but Chief Green says he will try to get that bonus extended.
To apply to work for the Golden Valley Police Department, visit city’s website.
