Where did it all begin:   

Arthur Bolte from the Kenneth Instrument company along with Mayor George Emerson Leach were interested in helping the police department form a military band to promote public relations between the police department and  the community. The Minneapolis Police band was formed in July 1917, but only 8 of the original 45 members could play an instrument.  After a few months of practice the band had two marches in its  repertoire and the following year played in the first Armistice Day parade in 1918. The band played in at police functions, Minnesota Soldier's Home, Minneapollis workhouses. The band played to welcome troops home to Minnesota from World War I.

 

The band has played in the parade to help the girls dressed in Red Cross uniforms to sell tickets to the Minneapolis fireman-policeman ballgame in 1917. The band led the Aquatennial parade for 80 years. The band has played in towns like

 

The band has played for many city events. In 1948 the band welcomed Babe Ruth at the train when he arrived to promote junior Baseball. The band marched down Hennepin Avenue playing for a group of tap dancers setting a  Guinness world record. The band has done band exchanges with police bands from Milwaukee WI, Cleveland OH and Winnipeg Ontario Canada .

 

The band has travelled the continent playing at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City on Minnesota Day.  In 1967 the band  preformed in Expo '67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The band played at Canada's Centennial in Montreal. The band preformed in the Bandemonium with several other police bands in 1989. The band was inducted to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

 

The band has played for police rookie graduations, police chief inaugrations, police week remembrance services and precint open houses. The band has played at Lakewood Cemetery for Memorial Day. 

 

The band celebrated its 100th anniversary of continuous existence in 2017. The band continues to preformed at venues from Elk River to Apple Valley today trying to promote public relations with the community through music. The band is currently under the direction of Robin Martens.