Inside Dueling Brews at 7:30 in the morning, Becker Police Chief Chris Lindbloom was waiting at a table for Becker residents to join him for Coffee with the Chief on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Only three people had initially joined the Chief, but as the morning progressed, four more showed up, bringing the total to seven. Lindbloom knew each of them, and after a short greeting, he would ask about them. That was how Coffee with the Chief felt: intimate, casual, and relaxed.   

Coffee with the Chief was scheduled to last for an hour, but on Thursday, it lasted for almost two. During that time, Lindbloom was asked questions on various topics, including ICE, social media, seatbelts, car seats, and technology, as well as how the department utilizes that technology and what technologies they are exploring. AI transcription was something he has been investigating, noting that for some officers, it saves them time and effort; unfortunately, the technology still has not been vetted in courts. 

His answers were always thoughtful and direct. He spoke about what officers do in a day, how they approach their work, and how the new improvements to the Police station help officers be more productive. He also took the opportunity to highlight the amount of time he spends investigating scams and fraud, which has only increased since he was named Police Chief. 

Most importantly, Lindbloom explained why he values events like Coffee with the Chief and other community engagement events. He believes they help build an atmosphere of mutual respect. It allows the community to see officers as people who are there to do a job, a job spelled out on the department’s website — to protect and preserve life, protect property, to understand and serve the needs of citizens, and to improve the quality of life in a manner consistent with the law and reflective of shared community values.