Staff

Dr. Booker Hodges is a law enforcement professional who has worked as a school resource officer, patrol deputy, narcotics detective, S.W.A.T. operator, patrol overnight watch commander, inspector, Undersheriff, Acting Chief Deputy, and Chief of Police. He has overseen Training, Human Resources, Fleet, Professional Standards, and Technology units. He currently serves as Assistant Commissioner of Law Enforcement for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, where he is responsible for overseeing 1,400 employees and a budget over $225 million dollars, encompassing the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement. Dr. Hodges spent time at the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the Prior Lake Police Department.

Dr. Hodges is the only active police officer in the history of the NAACP to serve as a branch president. During his five-year tenure as president of the Minneapolis NAACP, he was responsible for a landmark agreement to improve working conditions for employees of color and to diversify the Minneapolis Park Board. During his time with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, he was responsible for the hiring that led to the Ramsey County Jail becoming the first minority-majority staffed correctional facility in the state of Minnesota.

Dr. Hodges is also a sought-after national speaker on the topics of unconscious bias and recruiting/retention of twenty-first century workforces. Dr. Hodges earned a doctorate degree in Public Administration from Hamline University, a master’s degree from Saint Mary’s University, and a bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College. His experience in community relations and law enforcement are unique and have given him a dual perspective on current events surrounding the law enforcement profession. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and President of the Northstar Chapter of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives.