Blackduck City Council Weighs Disbanding Police Department, Contracting Sheriff's Office

The Blackduck City Council is holding a public hearing today at Blackduck City Hall to take comment on a proposal that would eliminate the city's independent police department and shift law enforcement responsibilities to the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.

The move follows years of fruitless recruitment efforts. Council members, speaking at a previous meeting, described a department that exists in name only. "Essentially, you could say we don't have a police department now, so we're not replacing it," one council member said. "We don't have an officer. We've had a position listed for quite some time, years I believe, and we have no one viable at this point. No one viable, no one interested."

Investments meant to draw candidates have not changed the outcome. "The new facility, new squad, these are supposed to be drawing points," a council member said. "They were supposed to attract that officer. And it's not working."

Blackduck is not alone in facing this pressure. Since 2022, at least one municipal police department per year has shut down in Minnesota. The City of Motley discussed potential disbandment in 2023, and the City of Bagley is currently reviewing its own department for a possible similar outcome. Should Blackduck proceed, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office would assume responsibility for policing the community.

The hearing today gives residents an opportunity to weigh in before the council moves forward. Key questions that remain unanswered include the specific contract terms with the sheriff's office, projected costs compared to maintaining an independent department, and what would happen to existing city police equipment and facilities.

In other local political news, Emily Thabes, executive director of the Beltrami County Historical Society, has announced she is running for the Minnesota House District 2-B seat currently held by Republican incumbent Matt Bliss. Thabes, a Clearwater County resident who has led the historical society since 2021, is seeking the DFL endorsement for the district, which spans portions of Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, and Mahnomen counties. She points to her management of day-to-day operations, staff, a six-figure exhibition renovation, and state and federal grant administration as evidence of her qualifications. The general election is November 3, 2026.

Separately, Beltrami County's Office of Emergency Management is seeking public input as it works to update its hazard mitigation plan, asking residents to share ideas on reducing local impacts from future disasters.