Overview
Headquarters
Independence, Minnesota
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 ten 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 until his retirement on April 30, 2014. On May 1, 2014 Gary Kroells 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
