Editing Bloomington, Minnesota (section)

===Municipal services===
The Bloomington Fire Department operates out of six [[fire station]]s, and uses the latest in fire-fighting equipment. The department has 30 fire-fighting vehicles, including pumpers, hook and ladders, specialty units (one vehicle compact enough to navigate the Mall of America's parking ramps), and spares, all of which are equipped with [[Opticom System]] equipment, which automatically switches traffic signals to expedite emergency runs. The average response time is four minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/fire/fire.htm |title=Fire Department &#124; City of Bloomington MN |publisher=City of Bloomington, MN |website=bloomingtonmn.gov |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109054206/http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/fire/fire.htm |archive-date=January 9, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2021, the city began transitioning to a full-time fire department through SAFER grants in 2022 and 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Communities shift to all-career fire departments as volunteer numbers decline - IAFF |url=https://www.iaff.org/news/communities-shift-to-all-career-fire-departments-as-volunteer-numbers-decline/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.iaff.org |language=en-US}}</ref> It was formerly one of Minnesota's largest remaining volunteer fire departments, 

Public safety is protected by Bloomington's 142-officer [[police department]]. The current police chief is Booker T. Hodges. The officers have Ford Police Interceptor squad SUV's, with each containing a computer-assisted dispatching center that contains a computerized records system, mobile digital terminals that allow officers direct access to [[Warrant (law)|warrant]] information and state motor vehicle and driver's license records, and [[Opticom System]] equipment, which automatically switches traffic signals. The police department is also supported by seven [[police dog|canine teams]]: six dual-purpose patrol dogs, and a single-purpose narcotics dog. The police department has one of Minnesota's four [[bomb squads]] and a 20-member [[SWAT team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/police/police.htm |title=Bloomington Police Department (Bloomington, Minnesota) &#124; City of Bloomington MN |publisher=City of Bloomington, MN |website=bloomingtonmn.gov |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411010844/http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/police/police.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>