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To report an emergency, please dial 911 immediately. For non-emergencies, contact the Cuyuna Police Department at 218-546-2692. If nobody answers please leave a message. If you need to speak to an officer immediately and it's a non emergency please dial 218-829-4749 and speak to a Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department Dispatcher. 

Cuyuna Police at the 2022 Woodtick Races

Themed Patch Fundraisers

New Radar & Radio Technology

Our Officers

History

The Cuyuna Police Department was established on January 1, 2000, and is located in the old fire hall building west of City Hall on Foley Street.

The Police Department performs all law enforcement functions, focusing primarily on traffic violations such as speeding, drunk driving, vehicle violations, and drug interdiction. The Department also participates in the Toward Zero Death campaign and is equipped with the most modern equipment such as radios, radar, and in-car squad computer. 

Cuyuna Police Department consists of a Chief of Police, one Deputy Chief of Police, one Sergeant and six part-time police officers and one professional police clerk.

From its inception in January of 2000, Former Chief Timothy Leonard had been instrumental in organizing the Department. Chief Leonard was a 29 year Law Enforcement veteran having served 11 years with the Crosby Police Department and most recently retiring from the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department as Sergeant with 18 years of service. Chief Leonard retired in 2014 with 14 years of service as Chief of Police for the Cuyuna Police Department.

Chief of Police Jesse Smith (Badge #202)

A resident of Cuyuna since 1984, was the first police officer hired for the Cuyuna Police Department by Chief Tim Leonard in January of 2000. 

Officer Smith’s law enforcement career started as an Intern with the Crosby Police Department in 1995, then was hired as a 911 Dispatcher with the  Crosby Police Department in 1996. 

Officer Smith’s first police officer job was with the City of Deerwood in 1997 as a part-time police officer. In 1998 Smith was hired as Deerwood’s first full-time police officer (besides the police chief) under the “Cops Fast Grants”.

 In 1999 Officer Smith was hired as a Full-Time Police Officer for the City of Crosby. Smith worked for Crosby Police Department as a police officer from 1999 to 2017.

In 2018 Officer Smith was promoted from part-time police officer to full-time police officer with the Deerwood Police Department.

In 2020 Officer Smith was promoted to Sergeant with the Deerwood Police Department where he currently works full-time today.

Officer Smith was the “2nd in command” from 2000 to 2007 when Smith was promoted to Deputy Chief for Cuyuna Police Department. 

In 2014 Smith was promoted to Chief of Police and is the current Police Chief for the Cuyuna Police Department today.

Chief Smith is married with two children and one grandchild.

Chief Smith graduated from Crosby-Ironton Highschool in 1993.

Smith has an A.A.S Degree in Criminal Justice from Northland Community College in Thief River Falls, MN. General Education and Accounting from Central Lakes College – Brainerd, MN. Police Academy (Skills) from Hibbing Community College, Hibbing, MN.

• Leadership Academy – MN Police Chief’s Association

• Blandin Leadership Training – Blandin Group

• Field Training Officer, Background Employment Investigator, Narcotics Investigator & Drug Interdiction

• Volunteer Head baseball coach/player/owner for the Cuyuna Range Miners baseball team from 2003 to 2018.

Officer Kelly Park (Badge #203)

Officer Park was hired by the Cuyuna Police Department in December of 2000. Officer Park is currently the most senior officer in the department.

 Officer Park is a full-time Deputy with the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department. Officer Park has been in law enforcement since 1997.

Park has worked with the Crosby Police Department, Staples Police Department, and Baxter Police Department part-time.

Officer Park is also an instructor for Minnesota permit to carry classes at Park Personal Defense Training, LLC.

Officer Brandon Anderson (Badge #204)

Officer Anderson was hired by the city of Cuyuna in November of 2023. He lives in the city of Brainerd and is a current full-time Correctional Officer for the Crow Wing County Jail. Officer Anderson started his law enforcement career as a Reserve Officer for the Fridley Police Department. Officer Anderson received his Law Enforcement degree from North Hennepin Community College and Hennepin Technical College. Officer Anderson also worked hospital security for Allina Health for approximately 4 years both part-time and full-time. Officer Anderson also worked as a Reserve Officer for the State Fair Police.

Officer Anderson spends his free time with his wife and two daughters, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and baja dirt racing.

Deputy Chief Josef Garcia (Badge #205)

Officer Garcia was hired by the Cuyuna Police Department in 2020 and then was promoted to Sergeant in 2020. Sergeant Garcia was then promoted from Sergeant Deputy Chief in 2022. Garcia supervises 7 part-time officers and is one of three employment background investigators for the Cuyuna Police Department. Garcia is also a firearm, taser, and Defensive Tactics instructor. Garcia is also the lead criminal investigator for major crimes in the City of Cuyuna.

Originally from Michigan, Officer Garcia has experience in many aspects of emergency service including fire protection, emergency medicine, and law enforcement. Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and is a veteran of the United States Air Force and Minnesota Army National Guard. Since 2004 Garcia worked for the City of Breezy Point where he serves as a full-time Sergeant/Paramedic. Deputy Chief Garcia also works part-time for North Memorial Ambulance Service and volunteers with North Crow Wing First Responders. Additionally, Deputy Chief Garcia previously served as a member of the Crow Wing County Tactical Response Team and Crow Wing County Dive Rescue Team.

Sergeant Garcia also used to work for the Crosby Police Department and University of Minnesota Police Department part-time.

Officer Steven Kovacic (Badge #209)

Officer Kovacic was hired by the Cuyuna Police Department in 2013. Officer Kovacic is the lead training instructor for the Cuyuna Police Department. Officer Kovacic has done training for the Deerwood Police Department and Crosby Police Department in the past along with Cuyuna PD’s training. Officer Kovacic does the training for all Cuyuna PD’s firearms, defensive tactics, taser, and use of force training.

Officer Kovacic works in the international community and has performed as a subject matter expert utilizing his vast experience in the following areas:

• Law Enforcement: Chief of Police, Investigator, Drug Task Force Special Agent, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) – Senior Team Leader & Trainer, patrol specialist, and police academy instructor.

• Instruction: 40 years of combined domestic and international instructional and practitioner experience in criminal justice programs, defensive tactics, firearms, and course design in the criminal justice programs at the law enforcement and college level.

• Antiterrorism: Subject Matter Expert for the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA). Kovacic has conducted training in a multitude of countries worldwide.

• Education: Master’s Degree with 18 POST Master’s credits.

• As a law enforcement officer, Kovacic has amassed over 9,000 hours of continuing education which have been recognized by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board. Kovacic has received numerous awards and citations and continues to educate others in the public and private sectors commendations including Honorable Mention – Police Officer of the Year 1989 MN Chiefs of Police Association and Outstanding Educator 2017 MN State Colleges & Universities.

• Kovacic has served the communities in Northern Minnesota since 1980 as a law enforcement officer with a tenacious dedication that drove his career to greater heights. With the continued support of his wife, he continues to serve the citizens of the world in his new endeavors to do his part against terrorism.

Officer Pete Kvale (Badge #201)

Officer Kvale was hired in 2019 by the Cuyuna Police Department. 

Officer Kvale also works part-time with the Deerwood Police Department.

 Officer Kvale works full-time as an EMT for the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Ambulance Service.

Officer Kvale has been a Cuyuna resident for 2 years.

Officer Rodney Coons (Badge #206)

Officer Coons was hired by the city of Cuyuna in November of 2022. He lives in the city of Deerwood and is a current full-time officer for the city of Deerwood. He has been with Deerwood since June of 2020. Officer Coons started his law enforcement career as a CSO for the city of New Hope and progressed to a full-time officer for the city of Sartell. Officer Coons spent 8 years in the army both active duty and in a reserve component. Officer Coons is originally from South Carolina but has lived in Minnesota since 2005. Officer Coons received his Law Enforcement degree from Rasmussen University in Eagan. Officer Coons also worked nuclear security in Monticello for 11 years. Officer Coons has been married for 13 years and spends his off-duty time in the outdoors and being a foster dad to bully breed dogs.

Officer Matthew Huesmann (Badge #207)

Officer Matt Huesmann started at the Cuyuna Police Department in 2022. Officer Huesmann is a native to the Crow Wing County Area. Officer Huesmann grew up in Brainerd and Baxter. Officer Huesmann graduated from Brainerd High School in 2011.

Officer Huesmann then served in the United States Marine Corps from 2012 to 2017. Officer Huesmann served as an infantry rifleman, combat marksmanship instructor, surveillance sensor operator for an intelligence battalion, and a basic security guard for a Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST team). Officer Huesmann has been stationed in multiple US states on the east and west coasts. Officer Huesmann has also served overseas in Spain and Okinawa Japan. Officer Huesmann was honorably discharged in 2017 and returned home to Crow Wing County to pursue his next dreams in law enforcement.

Officer Huesmann began college at Central Lakes College in 2018 and graduated in 2019 with his associates of applied science degree in criminal justice and law enforcement skills certificate. During Officer Huesmann’s time as a student, he served as a volunteer intern and reserve officer with the Crosby Police Department.

Officer Huesmann started as a licensed police officer in 2020 with the Crosby Police Department. Officer Huesmann currently works for the City of Deerwood as a fulltime Officer, and Cities of Cuyuna and Crosby as a part time officer. Officer Huesmann also has experience working for the City of Emily as an officer and the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy.

Officer Huesmann enjoys law enforcement in this area and is fond of the improvements and growth to the entire Cuyuna region. He looks forward to what the future brings.

Officer Hunter Henkels (Badge #208)

Officer Henkels was hired by the city of Cuyuna in November of 2022. He lives in the city of Blaine and is a current full-time officer for the city of Eden Valley and a part-time officer for the city of Deerwood. Officer Henkels started his law enforcement career as a Reserve Officer for the Centennial Lakes Police Department. Officer Henkels received his Law Enforcement degree from Alexandria Technical and Community College. Officer Henkels also worked hospital security for Allina Health for over 5 years. Officer Henkels spends his free time with his fiancé and daughter or playing hockey with his friends.

Minnesota POST Mandated Policies

• Cuyuna PD Policy Avoiding Racial Profiling Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Lighting Exemption of Law Enforcement Vehicles Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Predatory Offender Registration Community Notification Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Domestic Abuse Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Allegations of Misconduct Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Use of Force Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Vehicle Pursuits Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Professional Conduct of Peace Officers (Standards of Conduct) Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Criminal Conduct on School Buses Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Response to Reports of Missing & Endangered Persons Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Administrative Forfeitures Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Investigation of Sexual Assault Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Supervision of Part-time Licensed Peace Officers Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Eyewitness Identification Procedures Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Confidential Informants Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Public Assembly First Amendment Activity Model Policy

• Cuyuna PD Policy Citizen Complaint Policy