West Hennepin Public Safety (WHPS) is a joint-powers agreement with the Cities of Maple Plain and Independence for police services.  Both cities realized the need for 24-hour police coverage and formed the joint-powers agreement. WHPS was formed and began providing police coverage on January 1, 1979. The City of Independence had two full time officers at the time and became part of WHPS.

The department began with five officers with Jim Franklin serving as Director of Public Safety and has grown to a department of eight officers. Larry Bailey was one of the officers from Independence when the department was formed and became the second director of WHPS in 1991.  After Director Bailey’s retirement in 2000 Ray McCoy was appointed as director.

West Hennepin Public Safety’s first office was located at 1570 Halgren Road in the City of Maple Plain known as the old Halgren Creamery. When the Maple Plain Fire Department moved into its new fire station space became available in the Maple Plain City Hall. West Hennepin moved into that facility in 1982. The department has continued to grow with the community and it was evident more space was needed for the department.  Early in 2000 a facilities committee was formed to design a new police facility. Construction of  the building began in the spring of 2001 at 1918 County Road 90.  The police department moved into this space in January of 2002.

Community Policing & Reserve Program

Community policing has been a part of West Hennepin from the start.  The department concentrates on providing a high level of service to the citizens of Maple Plain and Independence. Crime prevention, DARE, Crime Free Multi Housing, public presentations, partnerships with Orono and Delano schools in drug education and prevention, Citizens Academy, and Emergency Management are just a few of the programs and services provided by the department.

In 1980 West Hennepin Public Safety started a reserve program. This unit which is made up volunteers has greatly augmented the department enabling many programs to be successful. One of the longstanding traditions of this unit is “View Santa” which happens each December. The reserves also have done bike rodeos, worked the BMX track, house checks and assist the officers where needed. This has been a valuable part of West Hennepin Public Safety.