In a personal glimpse into the lives shaping local law enforcement, the Blaine Police Department has highlighted Sergeant Brad Nordby, a veteran of the force since 2009. Nordby, who has served the department in diverse roles, from Patrol Officer to Narcotics investigator, shared his journey through a career drawn from a childhood dream of pursuing justice and safety within the community he grew up in. "I was drawn to the career because of its constant change, ability to work away from a desk, and the ability to bring safety to dangerous events," Nordby told the Blaine Police Department in their recent social media post.
Prior to donning the badge, Nordby's professional life included a range of occupations from an ice cream maker at Cold Stone Creamery to a stint in retail. These roles, while distant on the surface, helped to eventually scaffold his career in law enforcement. It was the Blaine Police Department's professional consistency and high standards that solidified his ambition to join the team. Having deeply rooted in the nightshift Patrol Division as a Sergeant, Nordby also recounts notable experiences such as tackling significant narcotics cases. He described an intricate, six-months-long investigation that culminated in a drugs bust seizing 111 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 pounds of cocaine and eventually leading to federal indictments.
When asked to articulate what inspires him, Nordby quoted Winston Churchill, saying, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” His words underscore the inherent resilience in police work. Besides the adrenaline-fueled aspects of the job, Nordby finds immense gratification in being able to bring dangerous events to a peaceful closure, acting as a shield between chaos and the community he serves.
An instance of sheer pride for Nordby was during the civil unrest in 2020, where as part of the crowd control team, he contributed to the public safety efforts in Minneapolis. "That event was undoubtedly the most dangerous prolonged situation I have encountered in my career," he recalled. The tireless efforts by his team, which comprised of exhausting 16-hour days, stood testament to the fortitude of each member. Outside the spectrum of his work, Nordby savors the outdoors, with hiking sprees stretching from the Grand Tetons to the Great Smoky Mountains, along with competing in bodybuilding competitions and exploring local gyms across the nation.
The personal side of this police sergeant reveals a childhood filled with memories from trips to Duluth and the North Shore, raising Shetland Sheepdogs, and achieving national ranking as a dog handler. With a favorite movie like "Band of Brothers" and an eclectic music taste spanning from nu metal to jazz, Sergeant Nordby's story adds a rich layer to the tapestry of community protectors. The spotlight article from the Blaine Police Department offers more than just a professional bio; it delves into the humanity behind the badge, showcasing Brad Nordby not merely as a policing figure but as a sculpted individual, interwoven with the threads of his past experiences, hobbies, and aspirations—both fulfilled and still in pursuit.
