Black River Falls Names New Police Chief

On July 19, 2017, the Hiring Committee for the city of Black River Falls named Kelly B. Bakken as the new Chief of Police / Criminal Investigator for the City of Black River Falls Police Department.  Bakken has been employed with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department since 2005 as a patrol officer (2005-2010), a detective (2010-2016), and most recently as a Captain (2016). She has 19 years of law enforcement experience previously serving 2 years as Chief of Police for the Village of Merrillan, 4 years as patrol officer and investigator for the City of Baldwin, and 3 years as a Deputy Sheriff Jail Officer with the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department.  Bakken earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Upper Iowa University and her Associate Degree in Police Science from Chippewa Valley Technical College.  The City’s Hiring Committee received 9 applications and interviewed 4 candidates for the position.  The two finalists were Kelly Bakken and former City of Black River Falls Interim Chief of Police Patrick LaBarbera.  Bakken will begin her tenure as Chief of Police / Criminal Investigator for the City of Black River Falls Police Department on September 5, 2017, and one of her first tasks will be to hire a full-time patrol officer and additional part-time patrol officers for the department.