Brodin Studios, Inc. began as a little company on the second story of a warehouse on the outskirts of downtown Minneapolis. Founded by three brothers, Rodger, the artist, and Neil and John, both Minneapolis police officers, it has grown steadily over the years, carving out a unique niche in the competitive art world. Dedicated to creating sculpture of exceptional quality and detail at conspicuously affordable prices, Brodin Studios has become known as the premier provider of art for the law enforcement and military communities.

Early in his career, Rodger had turned his considerable talents in a variety of directions -- creating breathtaking nudes, capturing uncanny resemblances in portrait work and even dabbling in wildlife. But it was his particular interest in the human form, and his fascination with the common man -- the ordinary individual caught in extraordinary circumstances, that led the company to its current specialties. Sadly, in 1995, Rodger Brodin passed away, leaving a legacy of artwork and a series of molds that continue in use today.

For 15 years, Neil Brodin had worked along side Rodger in the Studios, helping to create the many monuemtns, memorials and other works of art the Studios developed. Possessing his own considerable artist talents, Neil perfected his techniques over the years, and handles all the artistic duties in the law enforcement and fire fighter areas, creating new designs each year.

With the exception of the Rodger, every individual in the company is, or was, a law enforcement officer: Neil is retired from the Minneapolis Police Department after twenty years. John, a sergeant and investigator, is still activem with more than 25 years of service. Danielle Rodgers, was with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department for ten years. Brodin Studios even uses real officers as the models for its work -- Special Agent Jeff Glover posed for the FBI's "G-Man" and Investigator John Kohagen of the Burnsville Police Department posed for "The Protector."

In 1982, Rodger created the first in a series of miniature law enforcement sculptures, bronze tributes to the men and women who wear the badge. "THE MINNEAPOLIS COP" was originally commissioned by then Chief Anthony V. Bouza, and was presented annually to those individuals and organizations making significent contributions to law enforcement. But its popularity soon spread to the troops themselves, proud of the uniform they wore and the job they did. Hungry for a personal pat on the back as a sign of a job well done, if from no one else than themselves, the Minneapolis cops bought statues by the hundreds. (The Federation now presents the Brodin sculptures as their official retirement award.) Brodin Studios "Law Enforcement Recognition Program" had begun. Close to five hundred departments across the country and Canada have asked Brodin Studios to create customized sculptures for them: the number continues to grow as city, county, state and federal agencies alike discover their work.

In 1987, Chief Andrew Revering of the Anoka Police Department commissioned the first two-thirds life-size memorial entitled "THE PROTECTOR," a sculpture so appealing that it was universally accepted in the law enforcement community. Dozens of departments are currently planning, or have already dedicated, their own "PROTECTOR," and the image has appeared in publications, on tee-shirts and posters, and graced the cover of annual reports. And now, in response to demand, Rodger created a second figure -- "THE FIRE FIGHTER," as a complement to the law enforcement "PROTECTOR."