public safety

Three Rivers Park District Department of Public Safety is the law enforcement agency responsible for providing a safe environment for park guests and employees.

Emergency: 911

Non-emergency: 952-258-5321
(Please call this number to report a crime or suspicious activity)

Office Phone: 763-694-7730
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM

Park Rules & Ordinance

Understanding the rules and ordinances of the parks can help ensure your visit is safe and enjoyable. Whether you are going out for a hike or spending the weekend at a campground, take some time to review the safety information associated with your park or activity:

For all safety information regarding Three Rivers parks, please review the Three Rivers Park District Ordinances and state statutes.

Park Police Officers

Park Police Officers strive to provide a customer-service-focused park experience for our visitors by protecting the facilities, trails and natural resources of the Park District. The main goal of Public Safety is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience within the parks, to educate park guests on the use of the parks and to uphold the Three Rivers Park District Ordinances and state statutes.

The Department of Public Safety is a full-service POST-recognized law enforcement agency. We use a variety of specialized patrol methods including bicycle, ATV, snowmobile and boat in addition to traditional squad patrol. Public Safety staff are trained in emergency management response, missing person protocols, search and rescue, criminal investigations as well as conservation law enforcement.

park police officer badge

Three Rivers Park District Department of Public Safety offers a unique, non-traditional environment for law enforcement professionals. We partner with the MN DNR and other agencies on youth safety programs such as ATV/snowmobile safety, hunter safety, archery and bicycle safety. Our area of patrol includes 26 different parks spanning 27,000 acres. We also patrol 150 miles of regional and in-park trails as well as over 200 miles of turf trails in various parks.

Park Police Officers are sworn, licensed police officers trained to respond to medical emergencies and accidents which may occur in or near our parks and trails. All Park Police Officers are certified First Responders or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

Patrol Methods

The Department of Public Safety uses a variety of specialized patrol methods to ensure the safety of our parks.

ATV – Much like bicycle patrol, staff can patrol remote areas on ATVs.

Bicycle – Officers patrol many areas within the parks on bike so as to better interact with guests and to access remote areas not available by patrol car.

Boat Patrol – Public Safety staff patrol three Park District-owned islands on Lake Minnetonka and periodically are called upon to help the Hennepin Water Patrol as needed.

Cross-country Ski – Staff are able to access very remote areas of the parks on skis and provide first aid or enforcement as the situation warrants.

Foot Patrol – Staff also patrol on foot. 

Snowmobile – During the winter, staff patrol area snowmobile trails and check licenses on those who like to ice fish. Staff also patrols the Minnetonka Islands by snowmobile as well.

Model Policies

Read Three Rivers Park District’s list of model policies. These policies describe the actions taken by officers in particular situations.

Police Reports

Contact Public Safety at 763-694-7730. Please have your complaint number and specifics of the incident such as date, time and location.

Citations

To pay for an Administrative Citation, mail a check and a copy of your citation (or note citation number on your check) to:

Three Rivers Park District
Public Safety Office
4301 County Road 24
Maple Plain, MN 55359

Call 763-694-7730 to pay by credit card. Please have your citation number ready before you call.

Appealing Citations

Administrative Citation

If you have been issued a Three Rivers Park District Administrative Citation and wish to contest the fine, you must contact the Park Police Officer who issued the citation. The Park Police Officer will re-issue the citation charging you with a petty misdemeanor or a misdemeanor, depending on the offense, and you will then retain all your rights to dispute the citation in the County District Court where the offense occurred. An administrative citation for a Park Ordinance is meant to be an educational tool that carries a much smaller fine than a county ticket.

County Citation

If you have been issued a county citation, you must contact the County District Court where the offense occurred.

Impounded Vehicles

To release an impounded vehicle, please call 763-694-7730.

Lost & Missing Items

Contact the park office where you believe the item was lost. If the park does not have a record of the missing item, call Hennepin County Dispatch’s non-emergency line at 952-258-5321 to report the missing or lost item.

Career Opportunities

Public Safety offers a unique and fun environment for law enforcement professionals with opportunities for training and growth. Active eligibility lists are kept on file for a period of six months after a completed recruitment process. Applications and resumes are accepted only for open recruitments. View a listing of active recruitments.