Albert Lea Police Department is set to receive the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association’s Excellence in Innovation Award Honorable Mention, according to a press release.

Albert Lea’s recently adopted retail loss prevention program that partners with store owners in sharing data, including suspect information and committing to a rapid response helped Albert Lea finish ahead of larger law enforcement agencies such as Bloomington, Metro Transit and Shakopee in competition for the award.

“There’s no doubt it’s challenging to be a law enforcement leader right now, but Minnesota’s police chiefs and their staffs are coming up with forward-thinking solutions to a variety of challenges,” said Andy Skoogman, MCPA executive director. “The Chiefs Association designed this award to highlight those agencies and ideas that are improving public safety and Albert Lea should be proud to be among the state’s leaders in innovation.”

To be considered for the award, nominees are judged by the level of innovation, effectiveness of the program, ability for other departments to replicate and the overall impact the program is having on the community or the department.

“Through these continued collaborative efforts with our private-sector partners, successful outcomes have occurred,” said Albert Lea Deputy Director J.D. Carlson. “We’ve made numerous arrests for these types of crimes and retailers have been educated and have decreased their losses since the partnership began.”