A Lifelong Passion for Law Enforcement.


The son of a Minnesota State Trooper, Phil grew up in Mankato, Minnesota and began a career in law enforcement more than 30 years ago, as a part-time dispatcher and jailer for the Nicollet County Sheriff (St. Peter, Minnesota), while studying law enforcement at Mankato State University.

  • 1976—1978: Police Officer, Amarillo City Police Department, Amarillo, TX
  • 1978—1982: State Trooper, Texas Department of Public Safety
  • 1982—1985: Promoted to Sergeant/Investigator, assigned to Narcotics, Texas Department   of Public Safety
  • 1985—1997: Special Agent, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
  • 1997—2006: Promoted to Senior Special Agent, supervising Special Agents and the investigations of homicide, violent crimes, drug and gangs
  • 2007 to present: Beltrami County Sheriff

In addition, Sheriff Hodapp served in a variety of capacities and engaged in robust law enforcement training and accreditation, including:

  • Member and Tactical Team Leader, BCA Emergency Response team
  • Supervisor: BCA and FBI Special Project Team Lead
  • Graduate, FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA
  • BCA Management Series
  • FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Training
  • BCA Police Forensic Pathology Specialist Program
  • Logged more than 4,000 hours through law enforcement-related continuing education courses

Sheriff Hodapp and his wife Marilynne (educator, St. Philip’s School) raised their four children in Bemidji and continue to live and celebrate the four seasons as citizens of Beltrami County. Their children and grandchildren live in Bemidji and across the state in Duluth.

The Hodapp’s are active members of St. Philip’s Catholic Church, where Sheriff Hodapp served as a member of the parish council, building committee and St. Philip’s School Safety Committee. For more than a decade, Sheriff Hodapp served as volunteer instructor for the Department of Natural Resources youth firearms safety training.


View Sheriff Hodapp’s extensive training curriculum
View Sheriff Hodapp’s resume

Badges Carried by Phil During His Career

Click on a badge to read more about that department

Beltrami County Sheriff

January 1, 2007 - Present

Senior Special Agent

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
Bemidji Regional Office
1997 to 2006

Special Agent

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
Bemidji Regional Office
1985—1997

Criminal Investigator

Texas Department of Public Safety
Criminal Law Enforcement Division - Narcotics Service
1982—1985

State Trooper

Texas Department of Public Safety
Traffic Law Enforcement Division 1978—1982

Police Officer

Amarillo, Texas, City Police Department
1976—1978

Dispatcher/Jailer

Nicollet County Sheriff's Office
1974—1976

Past & Current Member of Professional & Community Service Organizations

  • Minnesota Sheriff’s Association- District 1 Representative
  • Board Member- MNDNR OHV Advisory Committee
  • Board Member- Northwoods Coalition for Family Safety (formerly Northwoods Coalition for Battered Women)
  • Member- Bemidji Area Race Relations Committee
  • Member- Headwaters Alliance for Suicide Prevention
  • Advisory Board Member- Hibbing Community College- Law Enforcement Program
  • Advisory Board Member- Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota (FACNM)
  • Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
  • BCA Agents Association
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation - National Academy Associates Member
  • Law Enforcement Executive Development Association
  • Association of Training Officers of Minnesota
  • Minnesota Sex Crime Investigators Association
  • Minnesota State Association of Narcotic Investigators
  • National Tactical Officers Association
  • DNR Youth Firearm Safety Instructor
  • Member, Knights of Columbus
  • Member, Bemidji Lions Club
  • Member, St. Philip’s Safety Committee
  • Served on the St. Philip’s Catholic Church Pastoral Council (six years).
  • Served on St. Philip’s Building Committee (finished a $1.7M addition to campus facility)
  • Minnesota Association of Law Enforcement Firearm Instructors
  • International Narcotic Enforcements Officers Association

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