The Park Rapids City Council heard reports from department heads during a Tuesday, Jan. 27 work session. Describing Park Rapids in winter and summer as two different cities, Appel noted that during the school year, the busiest police officer is School Resource Officer Joe Rittgers. Appel said the department has six certified training days each year, including four firearms days and two response-to-resistance days. ADVERTISEMENTFire departmentFire Chief Joe Carlson said the Park Rapids Fire Department had a record 189 calls for service in 2024, going down to 176 in 2025. Other numbers differed by one or two between 2024 and 2025, he said, other than a welcome decline in false alarms.