The Investigations Division consists of the following units:

Chaplains

A group of highly trained clergy and lay people from Eden Prairie make up the members of the Police Chaplain program. The group routinely assists police officers and firefighters in situations involving trauma and tragedy.

Criminal Investigations

The Criminal Investigations Unit investigates a wide variety of crimes including thefts, financial crimes and assaults. The Unit also prepares and executes search warrants, recovers stolen property and collects evidence for use in prosecution. One investigator in the unit has expertise in computer forensics, which involves the recovery of electronic evidence and data for the purpose of solving cases.

Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART)

The Domestic Abuse Response Team consists of one sergeant and seven officers who are specially trained to help domestic abuse victims by providing them with a comprehensive response plan.

Explorers

The Edina/Eden Prairie Police Explorers are volunteers aged 15-21 who are interested in law enforcement. They gain hands-on experience through training and volunteer activities.

Mental Health

This unit includes a sergeant and four officers who are specially trained in crisis intervention techniques and serve as resources for other officers who come across individuals in mental crisis.

School/Community Liaisons and Outreach

School liaison officers share staffing duties at eight Eden Prairie Schools: Eden Prairie High School, Central Middle School, and Cedar Ridge, Eden Lake, Forest Hills, Oak Point and Prairie View elementary schools. The liaison officers develop and present prevention and safety programs for youth, and respond to calls for service at the schools. They also plan and execute the City's annual Safety Camp along with the Fire Department, and Parks and Recreation Department.

Special Investigations

One EPPD investigator is assigned to the Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force, which consists of members of the Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Hopkins and St. Louis Park Police Departments and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

The Patrol Division consists of the following units:

Airport

The Airport consists of one sergeant who serves as a liaison to Flying Cloud Airport.

Crime Tech

The Crime Tech Unit consists of a sergeant and eight officers who have been specially trained to process evidence from crime scenes including fingerprints, shoe prints, DNA and other physical evidence.

Field Training

The Field Training Unit consists of three to four specially trained officers who provide on-the-job training for new officers. The training period typically lasts four months.

K-9

There are usually one to two teams who make up the K-9 Unit. The bond K-9 officers have with their dogs is more than that of a family pet and its master. Officers and their K-9s are partners, and they depend on each other in situations where a great deal of risk is involved. Police K-9s are used to help apprehend drugs and suspects, and find missing persons.

Patrol/Traffic Enforcement

Patrol officers are the most visible members of the Police Department. They can be seen patrolling the community in their squad cars, as they strive to keep Eden Prairie a safe place to live, work and play. Patrol officers serve the needs of the community by protecting victims, apprehending criminals and providing a high degree of public service.

Reserves

The Eden Prairie Police Reserves is an auxiliary unit of the Police Department. Police reserve officers assist licensed, sworn officers by performing community service tasks and non-criminal police functions. Reserves also assist in natural disasters and other emergencies that require additional personnel. Eden Prairie Police Reservists are volunteers and do not carry firearms.

Retail Crime

The Retail Crime Unit consists of three officers and a sergeant who are liaisons with the retail community in Eden Prairie. They operate out of a substation in Eden Prairie Center and focus on all types of retail crime and crime prevention.

Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT)

The Police Department has a SWAT team consisting of trained personnel and special equipment for the safe and expeditious handling of situations beyond the scope of regular patrol and investigations units. The safety and preservation of human life is the SWAT team's primary goal. Their overall objective is to achieve peaceful resolutions through negotiations, control and compliance.

Unmanned Aerial Systems

The Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit is comprised of three sworn officers and two volunteer civilians who are trained to used drones to help locate missing and endangered people, find fleeing suspects, support investigative functions and meet other public safety needs.

The Support Division consists of the following units:

Code Enforcement and Licensing

The Zoning Administrator oversees Citywide zoning issues by working with other City departments, and is responsible for educating the community and obtaining compliance on all zoning-related issues. The Licensing Technician is responsible for licensing businesses that sell liquor and tobacco, peddlers and individuals who seek permits to acquire handguns.

Community Service/Animal Control

The Community Service/Animal Control Unit responds to nearly 2,000 calls for service each year dealing with domestic, wildlife and livestock animal concerns. They also patrol parks, enforce ordinances and respond to medical calls, car lockouts and other customer service-related calls. The Unit uses a combination of education and enforcement to maintain the safety of Eden Prairie residents, while encouraging enjoyable and fulfilling relationships with domestic animals.

Emergency Communications Center/Dispatch

The Eden Prairie Police Department operates its own Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), also known as a dispatch center. All 911 calls made in Eden Prairie are sent directly to the dispatch center, allowing for enhanced, personalized customer service. The dispatch center answers approximately 50,000 calls for service each year.

Professional Development

The Professional Development Unit oversees internal and external training for all Department personnel. This unit is also responsible for maintaining the Department's procedural manual and overseeing the hiring process for new police officers.

Records

The Records Unit maintains the police records system, which processes reported complaints, crimes and calls for service. The Records Unit also maintains the stolen/found property inventory.