Growing up, Police Chief Todd Rohloff wanted a career in which he could help people and law enforcement lets him do just that. “I wanted to do something where I would work with people and help them better their lives,” Rohloff said. Rohloff has been Kimball’s police chief for 12 years. The police department is small, which includes himself, one full time officer and one part time officer, but the work keeps Rohloff busy. He makes sure the department maintains all of the state required policies, compiles monthly reports for the city council, researches and applies for grants, maintains squad cars and purchases equipment. Rohloff sees to it that he and his officers get the required training. He also writes their work schedules. A small department Having flexible schedules for his department is one of the benefits of a small staff. “I work the schedule out for the three of us,” he said, and they can always switch if needed. “As busy as we are, the shifts go fast,” he said, “and we’re still young enough where we’re active, aggressive officers.” Another benefit of working in a small police department is the one-on-one interaction with people. “My employees and I get along as friends,” he said, “and you get to know a lot of people in the community on a first name basis.” The hardest part about being chief is, “Trying to separate the politics that are in law enforcement out of my personal life,” Rohloff said. Another challenge is dealing with difficult situations. After attending to a call and writing up a report, it goes to the court system and is out of their hands. “You walk away and you can’t really do anything about it,” Rohloff said. Seeing the deprivation some people live in makes him thankful for what he has. “You appreciate having a nice home and things for the kids.” While some police officers become less sensitive to situations after many years of dealing with them, Rohloff said that situations involving children bring out that sensitivity. “I think you become more sensitive to the situation of the [deprived] kids, but in the long run you kind of get tough skin when you realize there’s nothing else you can do about it,” he said. A changing field Rohloff has never had to fire his gun and with new technology there is less of a chance that he’ll have to. “The technology that we have today is amazing,” he said. “Any information you could possibly imagine we could access from our car.” Last August the department got a Taser gun which has been used twice. It has two darts that hook into the skin and provides a 50,000 volt electric shock to the uncooperative person. “[The Taser gun] takes the hand to hand combat out of it,” Rohloff said. “It prevents officers and suspects from being hurt.” Increasing safety is important because of changes in crime. “Today the job is getting so much more dangerous on the road,” Rohloff said. Some of reasons it’s more dangerous is an increassing lack of respect for law enforcement and higher use of controlled substances, he said. Also, crimes are becoming more violent and violent offenders today are younger, he added. Farm boy to chief Rohloff lived in Morris until third grade, when his family moved to Atwater. He is a graduate of Atwater/Grove City High School. After high school, Rohloff went to Willmar Community College for two years. Then, he completed his 12-week law enforcement skills training at Alexandra Technical College. While in school Rohloff worked part-time with police departments in Cosmos, Paynesville and Eden Valley. Family Rohloff met his wife Renita while working at the Paynesville Police Department. She was a legal secretary who processed their paper work. They married in June of 1992 and have three children; Taeya, 6, Tory, 8 and Tyler, 12. Renita currently works as an abstractor for Coldwell Banker Burnett/Burnett Title. As a family the Rohloffs enjoy fishing, camping, staying at hotels where the kids can swim and visiting grandparents at the farm. Childhood dream “I always wanted a Harley Davidson when I was a kid,” Rohloff said, “I told my wife when I was in my mid-20s that I’d buy one when I turned 30 and I did.” Rohloff bought a Harley Davidson electroglide classic for himself and later bought a low-rider for Renita. They go motorcycling with a group who ride and meet for dinner at different towns or go for a weekend. In 2001 they rode out to Sturgis. Bobcat Business After working full time as police cheif, Rohoff operates his business, Rohloff Bobcat. He learned to run the equipment while growing up on the farm. He does excavation and has a skid loader, back-hoe and plow trucks. The business is full time in the summer and he hires snow-plow drivers in the winter. In addition, Rohloff has also been driving school part time for Land O Lakes for seven years. Small town life Rohloff enjoys working and living in Kimball and feels his family is safe in this community. “[Now,] I can send my kids to school and not have to worry about their safety,” he said. Plus, he likes the location. “I have my business established and I’m right in town so I don’t have to travel,” he added.
