Community Outreach and Events

The Farmington Police Department offers a number of community programs and services to our residents annually. The newly formed Community Engagement Team will continue those services and strive to provide positive community relations through proactive policing techniques. The team will be coordinating visits to events such as:

Police department tours
Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts meetings
Senior center visits
Birthday party visits
Open houses
Other inquiries

If you have questions or would like to schedule one of the events listed above, please email the Community Engagement Team at [email protected]. A member of the team will be in contact with you in a timely manner. The team includes: Officer Megan Chu, Sergeant Chris Lutz and Sergeant Andy Bellows.

From the Citizen's Academy to Toys for Town, the department participates in events year-round to promote a safe community and create ties in the community. Click on the titles below for program and event information.

Toys for Town

Toys for Town is an annual toy drive organized by the Farmington Police Department to help make the holiday season special for children in our community. The program provides local families a holiday meal kit and gifts for their children. In 2022, there were 400 children from 117 families that benefited from this program. The police department is anticipating similar numbers in 2023.

This year, the Farmington Police Department is setting an ambitious fundraising goal of $40,000, which would match 2022's donations. Along with the fundraising goal, collection bins for unwrapped toy donations have been set out at area businesses and city buildings. (See full list of locations below). They will be available until Monday, Dec. 11. In addition, monetary donations to the Toys for Town program will be accepted at the police department.

If your family needs this program, the department will take request calls through Dec. 11. Call 651-280-6TOY (6869).

Volunteers are needed to wrap and deliver toys on Saturday, Dec. 16. The wrapping event will be held at Farmington High School, 20655 Flagstaff Ave., starting at 9 a.m. Just show up at 9 a.m. ready to wrap!

Toys for Town tree ornaments are available for purchase! Proceeds will benefit the Toys for Town program. Stop by the police department, or the downtown Farmington Liquors location to pick one up.

2023 Toy Donation Drop-Off Locations:
*Farmington addresses unless otherwise noted
City Buildings
Farmington Police Department, 19500 Municipal Drive.
Farmington Liquors, 18350 Pilot Knob Rd.
Farmington Liquors, 923 8th St. Suite #945
Farmington City Hall, 430 3rd St.
Rambling River Center, 430 3rd St.

School Buildings
Akin Road Elementary, 5231 195th St. W
Boeckman Middle School, 800 Denmark Ave.
Dodge Middle School, 4200 208th St. W
Meadowview Elementary, 6100 195th St. W.
Farmington Community Education, 6100 195th St. W
Riverview Elementary School, 4100 208th St. W Great Oaks Academy, 115 Elm St.

Churches
Farmington Lutheran Church, 20600 Akin Road
Homestead Community Church, 344 3rd St.
St. Michael's Catholic Church, 22120 Denmark Ave.

Downtown Businesses
American Family Insurance, 402 3rd St.
Celt's Pub and Grill, 200 3rd St.
Gerster Jewelers, 332 3rd St.
Farmington Lanes, 27 5th St.
Dakota County Library, 508 3rd St.
Hale Nutrition, 115 Elm St.
Heavenly Hair, 319 4th St.
Market on Oak and Town Sports, 331 3rd St.
Old National Bank, 324 Oak St.
Premier Bank, 316 Oak St.
Synergy Dance Studio, 109 Elm St.
Twist and Tumble, 510 Walnut St.
Farmington Bakery, 212 Oak St.
Dakota Electric, 4300 220th St. W
Legacy of Farmington, 22300 Denmark Ave.
Kemps, 15 4th St.
Appliance Renew, 821 3rd St.

Highway 3 Corridor
Minnwest Bank, 3380 Vermillion River Trail
BlueNose Coffee, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
AnyTime Fitness, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
Thrivent Financial, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
Family Chiropractic, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
FarmTown Brew Hall, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
Midwest Dental, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
Bourbon Butcher, 20700 Chippendale Ave.
Pellicci Ace Hardware, 3560 213th St.W.
Dakota County Lumber, 28 8th St.
Castle Rock Bank, 22140 Chippendale Ave.
Farmington Veterinary Clinic, 645 8th St.
State Farm, 941 8th St.

North Businesses
Crossfit Calypso, 21210 Eaton Ave.
CVS Pharmacy, 19605 Pilot Knob Rd.

Other Locations
BDT Metal Work, 21350 Cedar Ave., Lakeville
Children's Dental, 17677 Cedar Ave., Lakeville
Scott Chiropractic Clinic, 15067 Crestone Ave., Rosemount
Genesis Chiropractic, 4678 Slater Road. Eagan.

The Farmington Police Department thanks everyone who made a contribution and/or volunteered last year. You helped make the season special for families in our community!

School Supply & Hygiene Product Drive

The Farmington Police Department is partnering with 360 Communities and the Farmington Area School District on its fourth annual school supply and hygiene product drive.

The drive will start Thursday, Aug. 31 and will run through Saturday, Sept. 30. The items collected will go right back to our local teens and families in need. Here is a list of the items that are mostly likely needed.

Male & female products:

Deodorants
Shampoo/conditioner
Body soaps (neutral smells)
Disposable shavers
Shaving cream
Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
Face wash (Basic products like Up & Up brand, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, etc.)
Hair products specific to Black students

Female products:
Pads/tampons

Donations will be collected at the Police Department and Farmington City Hall. The police department will have an up-to-date list and an Amazon wish list of products that are needed most. Amazon donations will be shipped directly to the police station.

Thank you for your help!

Pink Patch Project

During the month of October, the Farmington Police Department will, again, participate in the Pink Patch Project. This initiative is a public awareness campaign designed to raise awareness and money for cancer. This is accomplished by creating a pink version of the police department’s patch, coin or other memorabilia. The program originated in 2013 at a California police agency and focused on breast cancer. Today the concept has spread to hundreds of law enforcement agencies throughout the world and raises money for a variety of cancer related causes and charities.

In 2019, the Farmington Police Department joined several other Dakota County agencies in the project. Farmington partnered with the American Cancer Society to help raise money and awareness for cancer as well as provide support to cancer patients and survivors.

In 2022, Farmington participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at the Mall of America. Farmington also participated in the first annual collector trade show hosted by the Rosemount Police Department. This event raised additional money for the American Cancer Society by selling tables to merchandise collectors who were looking to sell police memorabilia in a swap show style setting. At the end of the 2022 campaign, Farmington, along with multiple agencies throughout Minnesota presented a check for over $62,000 to the American Cancer Society.

This October the project will be releasing new pink patch themed memorabilia.

Pink Patch (full size) $10
Pink Patch (mini) $5
Challenge Coins $15
Pink Surprise -Plush K9 Smoke

Items will be available to purchase at various locations.

Oct. 1-31
Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Police Station will have ALL items.

Oct. 1-31
During regular hours of operation
Farmington Liquors will have coins and patches.

Oct. 1-31
During regular hours of operation
Fissan Training Kennels will have plush K9 Smoke.

Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rosemount Police Department's Collector's Show

Oct. 28 from 8 to 11 a.m.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Mall of America

National Police Week Open House

National Police Week Open House
Saturday, May 18
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Farmington Police Department, 19500 Municipal Drive

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation, which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week that the date falls on as Police Week. Decades later, the event known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events, which attract thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation’s Capital each year.

In recognition of National Police Week, the Farmington Police Department will hold an annual open house. Please join us for Police Department and MAAG Team vehicle tours, K-9 demonstrations, and more.

Like the department on Facebook for more event information at Facebook.com/FarmingtonMNPD.

National Night Out (NNO)

The annual National Night Out (NNO) event is on the 1st Tuesday in August! Police and fire are excited to visit neighborhood celebrations again. Request a visit using our National Night Out form. This year we will continue the tradition of collecting items for the Farmington Food Shelf. Let's see how many pounds of donations we can get! Find the food shelf's most needed food, personal care, and cleaning items.

This annual event was created to heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention and generate support for police programs. NNO enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Visit natw.org for a free organizational kit filled with ”how to” materials.

Citizen's Police Academy

TBD
Farmington Police Department, 19500 Municipal Drive

Have you ever wanted to get a peek behind the curtain at your local police department? Well, you’re in luck! The Farmington Police Department is pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications for our biennial Citizen’s Police Academy.

Depending on the topic and the level of student engagement, classes could run anywhere from one to two hours. Some topics that may be covered are Patrol Operations (crimes in progress, impaired driving, mental health/crisis response, etc.), Investigations (interview and interrogation, crime scene processing, specialized equipment, etc.), SWAT Operations, Dispatch Operations, Administrative roles and functions, and more.

Participation will be limited and as such, Farmington residents and business owners will be given first priority. Must be 18 to apply, however interested persons 16 and 17 years old will be permitted with parental permission if seating is available. Applicants must consent to a brief background check before their seat is confirmed.

Chill with a Cop

Chill with a Cop
2024 Date TBD
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Come hang out with the Farmington Police Department at Chill Ice Cream Studio for a family fun evening! All kids get a free scoop of ice cream.