Mayor Rybak Chooses Tim Dolan as Police Chief

Minneapolis Native is Widely Respected With Deep Community Roots

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak today announced that he has chosen Interim Police Chief Tim Dolan to be the City’s next Police Chief. Dolan is a Minneapolis native, a 23-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department and has served as Interim Chief since April. Mayor Rybak made his announcement at the 2nd police precinct, where Dolan was first assigned as a police officer in 1983.

“This has been one of the most important decisions I will ever make, but it is also one of the easiest,” Rybak said. “After looking across this community and this country, I am confident that we have found the best police chief possible. Tim Dolan knows this community, he has the confidence of our police and he is an innovative leader who knows exactly what we need right now to make our City safe.”

“Tim Dolan is widely respected and has deep roots in the community. People know him and they trust him. He is a northside native whose finger is on the pulse of public safety issues throughout the City. Tim has led some of the city’s most effective public safety initiatives and understands every facet of the police department. Tim is the right person at the right time for Minneapolis,” Rybak said.

Prior to becoming Interim Chief, Dolan served as Assistant Chief under Chief William McManus, and ran the day-to-day operations of the department. Dolan’s service of leadership in the MPD spans more than two decades and touches nearly every part of the MPD. He was a Deputy Chief, Inspector and Commander of the 4th Precinct (north Minneapolis), Commander of Narcotics, Commander of Emergency Response, and Director of Training. Dolan has served in numerous command and leadership capacities across the city. As Interim Chief, Dolan assumed the responsibilities of Chief.

“I am deeply honored to be the Mayor’s nominee and I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Mayor and City Council at such an important time for the City of Minneapolis,” Dolan said. “I have dedicated my professional life to public safety in this City and I am humbled to be able to apply that experience in this new role. I know that we have work to do and I am ready.”

“We especially need to do more to keep our residents safe in north Minneapolis,” Dolan added. “I am already working to bring that area the extra officers they need now. I have a deep sense of ownership with this - it’s more than just a job, it’s personal. I also look forward to working with the Council in the confirmation process and hearing more about where they want public safety in the City to go.”

Mayor Rybak will formally nominate Tim Dolan as Police Chief to the City’s Executive Committee on September 27. Once the Mayor’s nominee is appointed by the Executive Committee, the Public Safety and Regulatory Services Committee will hold a public hearing and vote to approve Dolan. After that approval, Dolan must be confirmed by the full City Council.