Blackduck Police Department to Shut Down

BLACKDUCK, Minn. (KVRR-KFGO) — Blackduck in Beltrami County is the latest Minnesota city to shut down its Police Department, ending more than a century of local law enforcement. The Blackduck City Council made the decision citing ongoing staffing challenges and rising costs. The city of about 800 residents had been operating with a part-time police chief, one part-time officer, and a single squad car. Since 2016, roughly 40 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota have closed as rural communities struggle to recruit and retain officers, forcing many to rely on county sheriff’s offices or regional partnerships for coverage.