Albert Lea Police Department challenge coin hunt begins

ALBERT LEA, Minn.-- A new way to connect the community to law enforcement officers is coming in the form of a game.

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — A new way to connect the community to law enforcement officers is coming in the form of a game.

The Albert Lea Police Department (ALPD) announced it was starting its challenge coin hunt Thursday.

This comes after the city established its new logo design and all city-related products followed in updates. Updates included changing the police department's patches which became the inspiration behind a new medallion .

Detective Sy Vanthavong said once the department posted the challenge coin online, the design became a must-have for community members. A deputy chief then donated his limited edition piece to be awarded in the hunt for the duplicated piece.

Some theories say challenge coins originated as far back as the Roman Empire — but the modern coin as we know today found its start during World War I.

Detective Vanthavong shared more about the significance and how a hunt will impact the community.

“They were used for commemorating a specific unit or a unit that military personnel were in and then law enforcement just kind of adopted the challenge coin as well,” Det. Vanthavong said. “I thought it was a great idea — a great way to interact with the public and get our community to do something fun."

Each day community members can expect a new clue on ALPD’s Facebook page to find the replicated coin in order to win the real one. Hunters can locate the coin on either a public right of way or on city property.

The department says after the challenge, future coin hunts may be conducted during National Police Week in 2024.

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