MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Janeé Harteau took the oath Tuesday to become the City of Minneapolis’s first female police chief.
The ceremony was held at Minneapolis City Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Her daughter had the honor of pinning on the new badge.
She joined the Minneapolis Police Department as an officer in 1987, and has worked her way up to assistance chief.
“The police chief needs to be tough and a police chief also needs to be that caring human being who can remember everyone in the community, and to see their perspective. In Chief Harteau, I believe we have chosen someone who understands both of those perspectives very well,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak.
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to confirm the Harteau’s nomination last week. Councilmember Don Samuels, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Health Committee, said her nomination speaks volumes about Minneapolis.
“I am proud that we have created a culture where an ethical, creative, community-oriented woman of color who is a change maker can rise to be the chief of our police department,” Samuels said.
Harteau said while it’s a historic day for her, she wants the public to keep the men and women of the police department in mind, as well.
“I will also be asking our community as a whole that we remember to show our gratitude and support for the member of the Minneapolis Police Department who do amazing things each day,” she said. “We must support them and their families for the effort and sacrifices they all make. They are officers who are heroic human beings who wear uniforms, not super heroes in costume. Believe me, I wish we were, then crime would be nonexistent, police officers wouldn’t be killed in the line of duty and 3-year-olds would not be killed in their own homes. I won’t let you down.”
There was a moment of silence at Chief Harteau’s ceremony this afternoon, to remember fallen officer Tom Decker of the Cold Spring police department.
