News Flash

The Golden Valley Police Department continues to strengthen leadership, preparedness, and public safety through advanced training and professional development.

Picture: Sgt Joseph Magana

Sgt Joseph Magana recently became the first officer from GVPD to graduate from the FBI LEEDA Trilogy, highlighting his commitment to advancing leadership and supervision within the department. His achievement reflects not only personal dedication to professional development, but also GVPD’s continued engagement with structured, leadership-focused training designed to strengthen supervision, command decisions, and executive-level thinking across law enforcement. The LEEDA Trilogy emphasizes a progression through three integrated institutes, each preparing officers to excel at increasing levels of responsibility and influence within the organization. 

Pictured left to right: Officer Vang, Sgt Kotajarvi, Officer Gerhardson

Sgt Kotajarvi, Officer Vang, and Officer Gerhardson recently completed state Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, demonstrating a strong commitment to advanced medical readiness. The certification requires more than 200 hours of self-paced coursework and over 50 hours of hands-on practical training. These enhanced lifesaving skills will directly benefit the Golden Valley community by improving medical response, coordination on scenes, and overall public safety. The tactical EMT program is a collaborative effort between the Golden Valley Police Department and the Golden Valley Fire Department. 

Golden Valley police are investigating a single-vehicle crash that occurred near Glenwood Ave and Meander-Rd in Golden Valley at approximately 2:44 am Aug 25, 2025. Initial reports indicate a vehicle collided with a fire hydrant and a tree. 

First responders located two occupants of the vehicle and transported them to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. One was in critical condition unrelated to the crash.

The incident remains under investigation by the Golden Valley Police Department, and no further details are currently available.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Plymouth and St Louis Park Police Departments assisted at the scene.

Golden Valley Rd has reopened after police and firefighters cleared a crash scene at Golden Valley Rd and Kyle Place involving a late afternoon head-on collision between a dump truck and a passenger vehicle. The crash, which occurred Wednesday, June 25 around 3:30 pm, closed Golden Valley Rd to through traffic between Noble Ave N and Hidden Lakes Parkway. 

Golden Valley police and firefighters arrived to find the driver of the passenger vehicle trapped inside. Firefighters used the jaws of life to extricate the driver, who was transported to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.

Golden Valley Fire Chief Bethany Brunsell and Assistant Police Chief-CLEO Alice White thank the staff from Golden Valley Fire, Golden Valley Police, North Memorial Medical Center, Hennepin Healthcare, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and Twin Cities Transport & Recovery "for their great work at this incident, despite very challenging weather conditions," adding that "the teamwork between agencies is vital to our ability to provide the best possible service to our community.”

Golden Valley police are investigating a road rage incident that occurred around 11:50 pm Friday, May 30, 2025 near the Hwy 100 and Duluth St intersection and resulted in the death of a male victim and the detention of multiple suspects.

Emergency medical services responders and the Golden Valley Fire Department provided life-saving assistance. All involved parties, including witnesses and suspects, were transported to North Memorial Hospital for evaluation and treatment as needed. The victim succumbed to his injuries later that evening.

The GVPD is investigating in collaboration with the Hennepin County Crime Laboratory and the Minnesota State Patrol Accident Reconstruction Unit. Preliminary findings confirm the incident originated as a road rage altercation on Hwy 100 and escalated on Duluth St just east of Hwy 100. The GVPD is reviewing evidence, including witness statements and surveillance footage, and has identified all involved parties. The suspects remain in custody, and the GVPD says there are no ongoing safety concerns related to this incident. Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.

The GVPD encourages potential witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward and contact the GVPD at 763-593-8079 or police@goldenvalleymn.gov.

March is Women's History Month, and the theme for 2025 is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” The Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) exemplifies this theme through its success with the 30x30 Initiative and its participation in the Minnesota Association of Women Police (MAWP). 

30x30 Initiative

The 30x30 Initiative is a national coalition that aims to achieve 30 percent female representation in police recruit classes by 2030 and create a supportive environment for women in policing to thrive throughout their careers.

The GVPD has already achieved its 30x30 goals, with 16 women serving at all ranks of its 38-person staff, including:

• four patrol officers (one is a detective)
• two sergeants (one is a detective sergeant) 
• one assistant chief
• one detective
• three CSOs
• five support staff

“I am honored the GVPD has created an environment where female officers have the feeling of belonging,” said Assistant Police Chief Alice White. “Our department is one of very few who have met this monumental achievement, and I am extremely proud.”

White, who was featured in the 2020 Women In Blue documentary, more recently shared her experiences as a woman police officer in a 30x30 webinar interview (see video links at end of story).

Minnesota Association of Women Police (MAWP)

The MAWP works to ensure equity for women in criminal justice careers and provides resources, inspiration, training, and support for the women who serve their community as law enforcement professionals. Established in 1955, MAWP was started by women who worked in jails, courts, and law enforcement jobs and wanted to share their perspectives and experiences with colleagues.

As MAWP celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, it is working to build its a membership statewide and continue its mission of “utilizing, investing, and celebrating the individual strengths, talents, and skill of our members.” 

The anniversary kicked off with a gala in January and continues with the annual conference in May, which will include presentation of awards and scholarships as well as training and networking opportunities.

“In late 2024 the GVPD hosted an in-person meeting for MAWP,” said White. “It was well-attended and opened the doors for female officers to gain a better understanding of MAWP and become members.”

For more stories about local women in public safety, follow the City website newsfeed.

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Golden Valley police arrested a man for first-degree assault after a Dec 5, 2024 shooting incident at a Golden Valley home.

At 8:53 pm Dec 5, police responded to reports of a male going from house to house banging on doors in the 5200 block of Circle Down in Golden Valley. According to Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green, officers found Niko Antonio Boyer, who appeared to be under the influence of some type of drugs, and transported him to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, medical personnel at North Memorial Health-Maple Grove Hospital reported a patient who said she had been shot at a house in Golden Valley. Green said Kimberly Kay Landa told Golden Valley police she was shot in the leg by Boyer at a friend’s house at 5200 Circle Down. Officers detained several people in the house while Golden Valley detectives obtained a warrant to search for the weapon.  

Green said Landa is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital, while Boyer was treated and released from the hospital Dec 6 and booked into the Hennepin County Detention Center. The St Louis Park Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office assisted Golden Valley with the investigation.

The Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) swore in four new officers Dec 2 during a ceremony at Brookview Golden Valley. The event marked a new milestone after a two-year period where a loss of senior officers resulted in the City contracting with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office for day shift patrol services while GVPD officers worked the overnight shifts.

The GVPD’s fourth and final 2024 swearing-in ceremony officially welcomed Patrol Officers Nathaniel Law and Cory Salazar and Patrol Sergeants Robert Anderson and Joseph Magana. According to Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green, the GVPD is now only five patrol positions short of its budgeted 31 sworn officers.

“I hadn’t been with the agency that long when the roller-coaster ride started,” Green said. “We had to plan how we were going to bounce back so our community knew we were not going to let them down.”

Over the past year, Green and Assistant Police Chiefs Alice White and Rudy Perez designed and led a rebuilding effort that not only recruited experienced offices, but recruited and hired from within the GVPD’s CSO (community service officer) ranks as well. A key component was giving officers who had more than five years of patrol experience the opportunity to apply for sergeant positions, said Green, with White leading the effort to develop the new promotional process.

“It’s times like this as a police leader you must think outside the box, especially when faced with a critical situation,” said Green. “The puzzle started coming together, and we have been on a path since the start of 2024 to be back where we will have GVPD officers working both shifts.”

“Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, and her command staff and deputies, have been amazing law enforcement partners and have been very supportive during this rebuilding process,” Green added.

“We never compromised our service to the community we serve and protect,” said Green. “Our recent swearing-in ceremony got us a lot closer to reaching our goal, and we are now planning to start our next patrol academy class in February of 2025.”

Pictured left to right: Assistant Police Chief Alice White, Sergeant Joseph Magana, Sergeant Robert Anderson, Police Chief Virgil Green, Officer Nathaniel Law, Officer Corey Salazar, and Assistant Police Chief Rudy Perez

Golden Valley police arrested a 31-year-old man Friday Nov 1, 2024 for possessing a stolen vehicle and stolen firearm after responding to a 911 call regarding a driver slumped over in a car in the turn lane of Hwy 55 and Theodore Wirth Pkwy in Golden Valley. 

 According to Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green, officers discovered the red 2005 Toyota Corolla had been reported stolen after finding a Minnesota license plate beneath the vehicle’s Wisconsin license plate. A search revealed burglary tools used to break into vehicles and a loaded firearm in a fanny pack located within arm’s reach of the suspect. A NCIC check found the weapon was reported stolen Oct 31, 2024 from a vehicle in an apartment parking garage in the area of Laurel Ave and Xenia Ave S in Golden Valley. 

 The driver was identified as Hussein Hassan of Eden Prairie, MN. “He had multiple felony warrants, including one out of Ramsey County, and six additional Hennepin County warrants, and his driver’s license had been revoked,” said Green. “In all, this suspect had over $250,000 in outstanding warrants, besides the fact that state law doesn’t allow convicted felons to be in possession of a firearm.”

 “We tell our officers to approach vehicles like this with caution,” said Green. “These types of arrests are very high-risk, and around the country we have seen situations where officers approach vehicles and are ambushed by the person inside the car.”

 Green also said police continue to see people being careless with firearms left inside unlocked vehicles. “Gun thefts from cars are the largest source of stolen guns, he added. “On average, at least one gun is stolen from a car every nine minutes in the United States.”

 The case has been forwarded to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for charges.

In the aftermath of the April 7 incident at Lions Park, the City is hosting a Chat With The Chief community engagement meeting to hear neighborhood concerns. It will be held Monday, April 15, 5:30 pm, at the Lions Park Shelter, 151 Louisiana Ave N. The meeting will be led by Police Chief Virgil Green, Parks & Recreation Director Janelle Crossfield, City Council members, and City staff, and the focus will be safety in City parks.

Residents are encouraged to attend to ask questions and provide input regarding safety measures and next steps.

If you have questions about this event, contact the Golden Valley Police Department at 763-593-8059. As always, if you witness suspicious activity, feel unsafe, or require mental health support, call 911 immediately.

 At 4 am, Sunday, April 7, 2024, Golden Valley police officers were dispatched to reports of gunshots fired at Lions Park, 151 Louisiana Ave N, Golden Valley. According to Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green, officers found a male juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital with non-life-threating injuries.

Green says Brooklyn Park police officers later reported finding two males in Brooklyn Park with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.

"This appears to be an isolated incident, and there are no outstanding suspects or threat to the neighborhood,” says Green. “We are actively working with Brooklyn Park Police Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff Office investigators, who are currently leading the investigation.           

“We ask Lions Park neighborhood residents who have ring cameras or other outside cameras to check those devices and contact the Golden Valley Police Department if they captured anything that can assist law enforcement during this investigation,” says Green.

April is Autism Awareness Month, and Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) officers are wearing special patches to increase public awareness and acceptance of those with autism spectrum disorder.  

“Officers look forward to helping promote inclusion and connectedness for people with autism,” says Assistant Chief of Patrol Rudy Perez. 

Social and community support can help people with autism achieve optimal health and reach their full potential. It’s a time to spread awareness of the challenges and celebrate the differences of those affected by autism.  

“This is our way to show families that we recognize and support and care about people on the autism spectrum,” says Police Chief Virgil Green. 

Smart911 

As part of its awareness and support, the GVPD encourages community members to sign up for Smart911 to help first responders provide better service to those who may need it.  

Smart911 allows you to provide key medical and other personal information well before emergencies occur. When making an emergency call with a registered phone number, your personal profile is automatically displayed to the 911 call-taker, allowing dispatch to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. Profiles can include:  

• emergency contact information  
• medical history, including medications, medical equipment, and medical conditions  
• property layouts, access points, and utility information  
• number of people and pets on the property, and more  

Smart911 is available in all 50 states and in more than 3,500 municipalities across the country. Registration can be done online at smart911.com or via the Smart911 mobile app.  

For more information about community health in Golden Valley, visit the City website. 

Over the past year and a half, the Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) has worked to revitalize its partnership with Damascus Way, a local re-entry center that helps men transition from the correctional system back into the community. The collaboration fosters support and transformation, with roots in a shared vision of redefining relationships between law enforcement and individuals re-entering society from incarceration.

Before this work began, the only time GVPD personnel would interact with Damascus Way residents was when officers would pick up or report a predatory offender, explains Assistant Police Chief Alice White. Her goal is to seek ways to engage with individuals being released from prison, ensuring they feel welcomed and integrated into the community.

Tierre Webster, executive director of Damascus Way, says he saw an opportunity to “change the narrative around policing and foster authentic community policing practices.” The partnership aims to empower current and former Damascus Way residents to become esteemed members of their community, starting with ongoing, positive interactions with police officers. “If we do this right, intellect will change, and then behavior will change,” Webster adds.

“For the GVPD, this partnership offers a unique way to engage differently with individuals at their most vulnerable moments, such as during arrests,” said White. “Often, individuals who are arrested have a dual diagnoses, such as mental illness and substance abuse, so forming a relationship allows officers to know who these people are outside of their worst moments. It gives space for compassion.” 

Webster and White say such relationships can go beyond traditional law enforcement roles, ultimately contributing to the successful reintegration of individuals back into society.

Looking ahead, the overarching goal is to reshape perceptions of law enforcement for formerly incarcerated individuals, explains White. By demonstrating that engaging with law enforcement is not taboo, the hope is to pave the way for these folks to be embraced as valued members of the community.