Bloomington Police launch executive protection unit
The Bloomington Police Department announced it has launched an Executive Protection Unit to safeguard public officials and high-profile events in the city.
The unit is described as the first of its kind among Minnesota local police forces. Officers assigned to the Executive Protection Unit trained with the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service on threat assessment, protective intelligence, advance planning and close-protection tactics. Chief Booker Hodges tied the unit's creation to a rise in political violence and said it will conduct threat assessments, coordinate security and provide close protection in cooperation with other agencies.
The move follows a nationwide surge in targeted threats to public figures that intensified after a July 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and other high-profile attacks through 2025 and 2026, including the September 2025 killing of commentator Charlie Kirk. In Minnesota the wave included 2025 shootings of state legislators Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman and a January 2026 shooting in Minneapolis tied to immigration tensions. Violent threats against local public servants rose sharply in recent years — up 2,030% from 2015 to 2025 — and between 2023 and 2025 a larger share of reported violent threats targeted local officials than federal ones (42% versus 36%).
Some residents on social media questioned the unit's need and cost, saying police should prioritize arrests or coordinate with existing county homeland security resources instead of creating a new team. Others joked the protection looked tailored for high-profile local leaders, while some warned the unit could become a wasteful "money pit."
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📊 Relevant Data
Violent threats against local public servants in the US increased 2,030% from 2015 to 2025.
Threats to Public Servants Dashboard — The Impact Project
Between 2023 and 2025, 42% of reported violent threats against public servants in the US targeted local officials, compared to 36% targeting federal officials.
Threats to Public Servants Dashboard — The Impact Project
Threats against Minnesota legislators were at least twice as many by October 2025 as in all of 2024, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
With rising threats, MN lawmakers seek boost in security 'bridge' — Twin Cities Pioneer Press
📌 Key Facts
- Bloomington Police Department has established an Executive Protection Unit focused on safeguarding public officials and high‑profile events.
- The unit is described as the first of its kind among local police departments in Minnesota.
- Officers assigned to the unit trained with the FBI and U.S. Secret Service on threat assessment, protective intelligence, advance planning and close‑protection tactics.
- Chief Booker Hodges explicitly linked the unit’s creation to a rise in political violence and assassination attempts on national leaders.
- The unit will conduct threat assessments, coordinate security and provide close protection in cooperation with other agencies.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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