The most popular question that Police Chief Brent Baloun has received since announcing his retirement has been where are you moving to?  

People have assumed that since he is leaving the profession he has been a part of for more than 32 years, that he would be leaving Becker as well.  Baloun always tells them he is not going anywhere.  Becker is home. 

Beginnings

Baloun is originally from Brainerd, MN.  After graduation, he moved to St. Cloud to attend St. Cloud State University not for law enforcement, but to become a chiropractor.  Growing up, Baloun played sports and sometimes needed to seek medical care for his injuries.  Dr. John Redebaugh, a Chiropractor from Nisswa, would be the one to treat him.  Baloun respected what he did and more importantly, who he was.  Redebaugh inspired him, but after taking a chemistry class, he had second thoughts.  So, he changed his major to law enforcement and graduated in 1991. 

During his time at SCSU, he interned with the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department.  His family moved to St. Cloud as well.  His father worked at the State Prison there.  It was also during this time that he met his wife, Julie.  He might have stayed in St. Cloud, but he had the opportunity to return to the Brainerd area. 

Learning How to be a Cop

Crosby is only 15 miles from Brainerd.  Baloun was hired in April 1992.  He remembers that Crosby was a great place to learn how to be an officer.  It was there that he learned how to talk to people, an invaluable skill for an officer, and how to investigate crimes and do paperwork.  

“You had more time to do cop work,” He said.  

He was involved in everything that happened.     He said it was a great place to work and gain experience, but he wanted more in law enforcement.  So, in 1995, Baloun was hired by the St. Cloud Police Dept. 

He had many reasons for returning to St. Cloud.  He married his wife, Julie in April of 1994 who still lived there. They would be closer to family and he admitted, “There was also a lot more going on in St. Cloud.”  

There was a down side to that.  

“You don’t always get to see the end result of your work,” he said.  

As a D.A.R.E. officer, Investigator and a Crime Scene Investigator, Baloun often worked with the drug task force and the gang strike force.  He was also assigned to North Jr. High School and Apollo High on separate occasions.  These were invaluable experiences.  

“It adds to your career,” he says.  “You get to understand how people handle life situations because you work with parents, teachers, and students.”

From 2000 to 2006, Baloun advanced to become Sergeant in the crime lab and had many notable accomplishments.   In 2005, he was selected to attend the FBI’s Leadership Academy in Quantico, VA for three months.  An honor that less than half of one percent of those who apply get to do. He briefly considered a career in the FBI, but decided to stay closer to home and near family.  In 2003, he helped investigate the McLennan Homicide, a notorious case in which a 17-year-old murdered his father.      

A Call from a Friend

In 2006, Baloun received a call from an old friend who lived in Becker.  Officer Greg Bratt told him they were looking for a Chief of Police and that he should apply.  The first thing that Baloun changed was the patch that is sown onto every BPD uniform.  The Bulldog was designed by a student at Becker High School.  He also wanted to create a culture of professionalism.  June Hubbard, the secretary for the Police Department when Baloun started, was an essential partner.  

“She took me under her wing and taught me a lot,” he said.

In his resignation letter to the City Council, Baloun wrote, “I have worked tirelessly to advance technology, credibility, and the professionalism of this department as we conduct day-to-day business.”  

This reporter asked him if he accomplished those goals.  

Baloun answered with an affirmative, “Yes, but it doesn’t end.” 

He hopes that he has set up the next Police Chief for success.  He is also proud of this community, 

“We have great police officers working here and are fortunate that we’ve got a community who supports us. We have a very safe community.”

“You can learn about a community by the number of cops who live there,”   he says. 

He knows a lot of cops who call Becker home.  Chief Baloun calls Becker home.  He lives here with his wife Julie, his two daughters Lindsey and Lauren, who graduated from Becker High School.   

He has no plans to move.