MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Minneapolis City Council has unanimously approved the appointment of Janee Harteau as the city’s next police chief.
Harteau, a 25-year department veteran, is the first female and first openly gay police chief in the city’s history. She succeeds Tim Dolan, who retired.
Mayor R.T. Rybak nominated Harteau. He says the Duluth native has unique experiences which will help her be an effective leader.
Minnesota Public Radio News reports Rybak referred to a complaint Harteau filed with the Minnesota Human Rights Department in the mid-1990s about how the police department treated women. Rybak called that “an important value to be bringing to the table, because in the top job, that top cop can also see when things aren’t going right.”
Harteau will be sworn in next week.
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