Mayor Rybak: Minneapolis Dramatically Safer Under Chief Dolan’s Innovative Leadership
Mayor, Council members praise Dolan’s service upon announcement that he will retire at end of year
April 25, 2012 (MINNEAPOLIS) — Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and City Council members today strongly praised Police Chief Tim Dolan’s leadership in significantly reducing crime and making Minneapolis dramatically safer. Chief Dolan, who has led Minneapolis’ police force since 2006, announced today that he will not seek a third full term as chief and will retire at the end of 2012 after a 29-year career with the Minneapolis Police Department.
Mayor Rybak said, “Tim Dolan stepped in as chief in the middle of a public-safety crisis and immediately began to spearhead a significant, multi-year decrease in crime. It wasn’t an accident: we worked closely together for months and years on a series of smart strategies that engaged every community in our city and made every part of Minneapolis dramatically safer.”
Mayor Rybak continued, “Chief Dolan has also been a great innovator on many fronts: in leading effective crime-reduction partnerships with community; in fully partnering in our successful efforts to prevent youth violence; in strengthening Minneapolis’ cutting-edge, data-driven policing that has become a national model under his leadership; and in boldly championing our fight against illegal guns.”
City Council President Barbara Johnson concurred. “The sharp decline in crime that Chief Dolan has led is due in great measure to his outreach and partnerships with residents and communities. On the Northside, where he and I both come from, neighbors have huge confidence in Tim and still call him by his first name. His years of dedicated service to our city and our neighborhoods will be remembered for a very long time.”
Council Member Don Samuels, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Health Committee, added, “Tim Dolan has overseen the most dramatic reduction in violent crime in recent memory. He has accomplished this in the toughest economy, with a combination of strong leadership, technological innovation and breakthrough strategic thinking. The city is a safer place because of Chief Dolan’s excellent service.”
Mayor Rybak first nominated Dolan to serve as interim chief in 2006. The City Council confirmed Mayor Rybak’s nomination of Dolan to three-year terms as chief in 2007 and 2010.
Before becoming chief, Dolan served in numerous command and leadership capacities in nearly every part of the city, including as deputy chief, inspector and commander of the 4th Precinct in North Minneapolis, commander of narcotics, commander of emergency response and director of training.
Chief Dolan said, “I have lived in or worked for the City of Minneapolis my entire life. Every day that I put on the uniform, I consider myself fortunate and honored to work for the finest team I have known. Thank you all for making that possible.”
“Chief Dolan is not done: he has much good work left to do, but he deserves our deep thanks and gratitude for his years of exemplary public service and for making Minneapolis a much safer, stronger city,” Mayor Rybak concluded.
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Published Apr. 25, 2012