L: Officer Todd Groves, R: Officer Groves runs radar from the
old Vikings ship during a traffic detail.

Today is Officer Todd Groves’ last day at the EPPD after 27 years of service.

At a celebration yesterday, Chief Matt Sackett awarded Officer Groves with the Career Achievement Award. Here is an excerpt from the award:

Officer Todd Groves grew up in Eden Prairie and started his career at the EPPD as a Reserve Officer from 1995 to 1999. In January 1999 he was hired as an officer. During his tenure, Officer Groves served in a number of roles including traffic officer, crime scene technician, field training officer, drug recognition evaluator and reserve unit coordinator.

In his longest secondary assignment, Officer Groves spent almost 18 years as a field training officer where he trained 34 officers for a full month and many others for a shorter time. In addition, he was a long-time instructor for all new officers in traffic radar operation. His guidance and expertise helped shape many of the officers who are still employed at Eden Prairie today.

Since his early days at the department, Officer Groves focused on traffic. For many years he was the department leader in seatbelt and car seat education and enforcement. He spent 11 years as a drug recognition evaluator and earned a spot on the Minnesota DWI All-Star team six times, in 2008 and again in 2012-2016, for the high number of DWI arrests he made. During this time, Officer Groves’ work on DWI enforcement was repeatedly praised by the City prosecutor and other officers sought his guidance on DWI arrests, which can be challenging and time consuming. 

Officer Groves led hundreds of traffic details and was well respected in the metro area for his traffic enforcement passion. In 2023, Officer Groves received a challenge coin from the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety for his arrest of two teenagers who were racing down Pioneer Trail at nearly 100 MPH. Since 2022 he has also maintained the department’s traffic equipment.

Officer Groves was known in the department as a tenacious advocate for traffic enforcement and safety. His proactive traffic enforcement throughout his career undoubtedly saved countless lives.

Thank you for your service Officer Groves. We wish you all the best in retirement!