The Eveleth Police Department is comprised of 12 full-time officers including the Police Chief. They are responsible for public safety for the citizens of Eveleth including, but not limited to, traffic control and police protection not only in detecting and investigating crimes and apprehending the violators but in helping and assisting the victims of crimes. The Police Department serves the communities of Fayal Township and Leonidas. At one time the Police Department had its own hockey team comprised of police members and other city officials.
History
Eveleth was platted in 1893. The first village election was in the spring of 1893.
1908 there were 6 on the police force including the chief. Chief Nick Kent, and patrolmen Henry Bessen, John Schwab, Tim Welch, Peter Norde, Charles Mahaffey.
November 1, 1914 police appointments by Mayor Saari; Chief Robert Mitten. Jacob Kentta, RS Pincus sergeants, John Zidar and William Emery sergeants were removed from force, Louis Acciccefferro kept on as patrolman and 3 new patrolmen hires; Jack Rodda, John Anderson, Louis Gozeva, Louis Decker court officer, SN Anderson watchman at St. Mary’s Lake, Frank Weinburg and E Andrews pound masters.
Matt Shortall - Marshal - 1895-1897
John Glode - Chief - 1917 to 1939
Chiefs of Police
Jerry Sullivan
October 1894 to 1895
1st Constable of Eveleth
Matt Shortall
1895 to March 1897
1st Marshal of Eveleth
Resigned March 1897, accepted position in detective agency.
OBIT: Matthew Shortall, d. 9/15/1903 in Stillwater MN, 57 yrs old, Chief of Stillwater for 20 yrs, sent to Eveleth to be marshal, served 2 years.
Rolle
1899
Henry Hookwith
April 1897 to 1900
Elected as an Eveleth village trustee in first election.
OBIT: Died 8/27/1915 in Mpls, Eveleth pioneer & owner of saloon in Old Town- built in new Eveleth in building where Finch Saloon is (1915). Moved to Mpls in 1900, 49 yrs old and married.
Emil Peter Juntilla
March 13, 1900 to Unknown
Elected as constable. November 1903 worked for Gleason Hardware Company. Moved to Sparta July 1904 to work at Malta Mine. Died 09-10-1942, lived in Duluth on E Superior Street, 69 years.
Patrick “Pat” Dolan
April 1903 to August 18, 1906
Three men on the police force in 1903 including Dolan. February 1905 there were 4 men on the force: John Derzai, Pat Dolan, Nick Kent, Kestila. In August 1906, Dolan resigned due to failure to attend to his duty (There was a shoot-out in town among Italians and Dolan was out enjoying an evening socially. Was a police officer in Virginia in the 1910s.
Nick Kent
August 21, 1906 to November 14, 1910
Sworn in as superintendent of police. Became chief due to resignation of Patrick Dolan. He has been on the force 2 ½ yrs. Other officers on the force include: Henry Bessen, Tony Azzo.
OBIT: Nickolas Kent d. 1/28/1945 in Eveleth of heart attack, pioneer resident, b in England 12/11/1862, lived in Eveleth 45 yrs.
John Jerome Farley
November 14, 1910 to July 31, 1912
OBIT: Died 4/6/1923 in Eveleth of a lingering illness, 68 yrs old, came to Eveleth 25 yrs ago, was a city pioneer, barber, at time of death was special judge of Eveleth Municipal Court. Pallbearers included, Chief Glode and Louis Belanger.
Thomas J Finnegan (Finnigan)
August 1, 1912 to October 1914
OBIT: Died May 11, 1936 athome 220 Jones St. Eveleth, 77 yrs old, buried in Eveleth Cemetery. Came to Eveleth 27 yrs ago (in 1936) worked at Fire Dept. (was a member of running team for FD tournaments), then was Police Chief, recently operated the rooming house called Bailey Block. Early pioneer of Hurley, WI, where he owned and operated the Lake Shore Hotel and was chief of police for 3.5 yrs. Owner of The Play Shop with son in Eveleth which went bankrupt in 1930.
R L (Robert Lincoln) Mitten
November 1, 1914 to January 24, 1917
OBIT: Died 1/24/1917 in Eveleth of pneumonia. Born 11/2/1871 in Michigan. Was a locomotive engineer in ND and Mpls prior to coming to Eveleth. Was an engineer for Oliver Iron Mining Co.
John Glode
February 1, 1917 to March 1, 1939
Appointed chief. Was Sheriff in Michigan.
OBIT: Was an officer for 8 years in MI. Owner of the Glode Hotel (fna McNeil Hotel) in Eveleth. Was a member of the Elks, was chief for 21 yrs and was forced to retired in 1939 from EPD. Died in Shakopee in January 1941.
Edward R Mahaffey
October 29, 1939 to 1974
Retirement from the force with 40 yrs of service of which 32 of the years were as chief, was Eveleth’s & state’s youngest chief to date at 29 yrs. old. OBIT: Born in Eveleth 6/10/1910, d. 11/3/1976 of cancer. Graduated from Eveleth HS in 1929, was the captain of the All-Range HS Championship football team in 1928. Went to Eveleth Jr College and captain of the Eveleth Jr College Championship football team in 1932. Excelled in football and track & field in both HS and college. Went to the University of Washington. Was an FBI Academy graduate. Was also on the Eveleth City Council.
Frank Carl Stagliano
1976
Was a sergeant for EPD in 1971.
Died 7/28/1994 in Hennepin Co., buried in Eveleth Cemetery, b. 2/5/1925 in St. Louis Co., 69 yrs.
James D Bozicevich
1988 & 1995
OBIT: Born in Eveleth 4/18/932 and died 10/5/ 2019 in Duluth. Enlisted in the US Navy Seabees was on the Virginia PD for 25 yrs, Chief in Eveleth for 15 yrs. Went to UMD while a police officer and taught at Hibbing Technical College.
Brian Lillis
1998
Retired in April 2012. Started as a dispatcher with St. Louis County in 1981, came to Eveleth PD as an officer in 1983. Served for almost 30 yrs. Currently on Eveleth City Council.
Timothy Koivunen
May 1, 2012 to March 2021
Jesse Linde
March 2021 - Current
Served on EPD for 15 yrs and 6 of those yrs as Deputy Chief.
Researched and compiled by Michele Lammi for Iron Range Historical Society, January 2025
Policeman Louis J. Belanger
Line of Duty Death
Eveleth Police Department, Minnesota
End of Watch Tuesday, November 16, 1926
Policeman Louis Belanger and Policeman Frank LoPresti were killed when portions of the Miners Meat & Grocery caught fire collapsed.
They were assisting the fire department at the scene of the fire. They had just rescued several citizens from the building when a wall collapsed. Policeman LoPresti was crushed by falling bricks and killed. Policeman Belanger suffered a severe leg injury from the debris and died two days later after undergoing an operation to amputate one of his legs.
Policeman Belanger was survived by his wife and four children.
Policeman Frank Paul LoPresti
Line of Duty Death
Eveleth Police Department, Minnesota
End of Watch Sunday, November 14, 1926
Policeman Frank LoPresti and Policeman Louis Belanger were killed when portions of the Miners Meat & Grocery caught fire collapsed.
They were assisting the fire department at the scene of the fire. They had just rescued several citizens from the building when a wall collapsed. Policeman LoPresti was crushed by falling bricks and killed. Policeman Belanger suffered a severe leg injury from the debris and died two days later after undergoing an operation to amputate one of his legs.