Booker Hodges

Neighborhood Relations

Booker T. Hodges, is a law enforcement professional who has worked as a school resource officer, patrol deputy, narcotics detective, SWAT operator, patrol overnight watch commander, Inspector, undersheriff of administration, acting chief deputy and chief of police. He has overseen a $58M budget, training, human resources, fleet, professional standards and technology units. He currently serves as assistant commissioner of law enforcement for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, where he is responsible for overseeing the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement. Booker spent time at the Minnesota State Fair Police Department, Dakota County Sheriff’s, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and the Prior Lake Police Department.

Booker is the only active police officer in the history of the NAACP to serve as a branch president. During his 5-year tenure as president of the Minneapolis NAACP he was responsible for a landmark agreement to improve working conditions for employees of color and to diversify the Minneapolis Park Board. Booker was also responsible for the hiring that led to the Ramsey County Jail becoming the first minority majority-staffed correctional faclity in the state of Minnesota. As Chief of Police, Booker implemented an employee wellness program that included a manatory annual mental health checkup for all staff and a phyiscal fitness incentive to assist staff with their wellbeing. Booker has been an inclusion instructor for 18 years and he is also a certified human resource manager. Booker is a national presenter on the topics of unconcious bias and recruiting/retention of 21st century workforces.

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Full list of Booker Hodges results

Policing needs alignment, not reform
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Restoring relationships with our neighbors will require a commitment on both sides to honest and open dialogue
Not them, but us! Not they, but we! Not her/him, but me!
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Law enforcement can either lead or be led on the issue of race in America
What I learned about policing from my social media fast
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Community attitudes toward law enforcement are much different in real life from what we are led to believe online
Educate your community: 3 use of force core values for police
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The more we explain to people why we do what we do, the better chance we have of turning around false narratives surrounding our profession
How to implement annual mental health checks for your officers
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If we are going to eliminate the stigma of mental illness within our profession, it starts at the top
4 ways officers can improve neighborhood relationships
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If you know more criminals on your beat than citizens you protect, that’s a problem – here are four ways to remedy that
IACP 2018 preview: Unconscious bias training for law enforcement
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Unconscious bias training recently became mandatory for every police officer in Minnesota to take in order to maintain their peace officers license
What police unions do (and why it matters)
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As labor unions brace for SCOTUS to rule in Janus v. AFSCME, here’s a reminder of the history, role and value of police unions
2 reasons cops should not respond to non-violent mental health calls
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Society cannot expect police officers to handle mental health calls with the same expertise as mental health care professionals
How community-based enforcement will help close the trust gap
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We need to try an enforcement approach that is tailor-made and designed by and for our specific communities
5 steps to cultivate diversity in law enforcement
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Applying the concepts of farming provides a solid strategy for successful recruiting and retention in policing
4 ways 'leave no trace' leadership harms cops
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We need our leaders to vehemently defend our profession and educate the public about our profession now more than ever
7 tips for building a diverse police workforce
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Police departments across the country are being pressed to hire police officers that are reflective of the communities they serve
8 privacy reminders for cops about living in the fishbowl
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Given the current state of events in our profession, we need to teach new officers how to be prepared for life in the fishbowl