2026 Vol 20, Issue 1 February - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gem Lake News Page 4 of 8 White Bear Police and Fire Departments provided their annual report to the City of Gem Lake at the January 20 City Council Meeting. The city contracts for public safety services through White Bear Lake, an arrangement that has existed for many years. Police Department Report Police Chief Dale Hagar provided a presentation and was then present to answer questions on 2025 details of the public safety relationship. According to Hagar, there were 21,581 case numbers recorded in 2025 for the total area served by the White Bear Lake Police Department. This covers both White Bear and Gem Lake. Of this number, 398 of them were from Gem Lake. A case number covers anything from a traffic stop to a report of suspicious activity. In total, case numbers are up 17% in 2025 over 2024, but for Gem Lake, the number represents a 9% decrease. There were five arrests in Gem Lake last year, a 44% decrease from 2024, when there were 9 arrests. There was a dramatic increase in traffic stops in Gem Lake in 2025, clocking in at 114 stops, compared to 84 the year before, up 26%. Theft reports were up 29% in 2025 over 2024, which sounds ominous. However, keep in mind that there were 5 reports in 2024 and 7 in 2025. Gem Lake had no domestic incidents in 2025 and only one the year before. In an effort to promote communication in the community, the White Bear Police Department made it a goal to become even more involved in 2025. With this in mind, they participated in 95 community events in 2025, versus 75 in 2024 and 30 in 2023. Events included things like “Polar Plunge” and “Donuts with a Cop”. According to Hagar, it’s all about building relationships. “We are committed to the improvement of the quality of life in our community,” according to the department’s overall motto. Staffing within the department has increased slightly over the year before, due to some strategic hiring. There are now 30 sworn officers, and the department is authorized for 32. The department includes one police chief and two captains (one patrol and one administrative). In addition, there are 16 police officers assigned to patrol, 3 investigators, 3 school resource officers, 5 community service officers, and 4 administrative staff. Highlights of 2025 included an audit of the evidence room, which passed with flying colors. In addition, the department acquired 4 new squad cars and a Polaris side by side. Fire Department Report Fire Chief Greg Peterson began his presentation by outlining the huge area covered by the White Bear Fire Department. While the White Bear Police Department has only one contract city (Gem Lake), the Fire Department serves four contract cities in addition to their own city. These include Gem Lake, White Bear Township, Dellwood and Birchwood. In total the department covered 35 square miles and served a population of around 38,000 people. Public Safety Report Presented to City Council