The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) established a new statewide unit within its investigative services division in 2024 that is focused on reducing violent crime wherever it occurs. The Violent Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU) works with local law enforcement partners to prevent violent incidents through:

• Providing investigative support to local agencies on violent crime and violent criminal organization investigations, and working to disrupt plots of mass violence before they can be carried out 
• Providing analytical assistance to agencies on violent crime investigations
• Establishing a unit within the BCA lab focused on violent crime

The VRCU is based in the Twin Cities Metro Area but is designed to quickly support local partners in communities across Minnesota. A broad array of specialists support this effort. The VCRU includes:

• 17 special agents
• 2 criminal intelligence analysts
• 2 crime victim/witness coordinators
• Forensic scientists
• 1 firearms detection K-9
• Partner agencies 
  • Anoka County Sheriff’s Office
  • Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office
  • Bloomington Police Department
  • Brooklyn Park Police Department
  • Columbia Heights Police Department
  • Crystal Police Department
  • Fridley Police Department
  • Maplewood Police Department
  • Metro Transit Police Department
  • North St. Paul Police Department
  • Robbinsdale Police Department
  • Roseville Police Department
  • St. Louis Park Police Department