St. Paul Black leadership group raises diversity concerns about new police chief’s top appointments

Kristi Belcamino, Pioneer Press
·2 min read
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The head of a St. Paul African American leadership group raised concerns Friday that the new police chief’s top appointments did not include any African Americans.

Police Chief Axel Henry, who has been serving as chief for about a month, announced his transition team earlier this week.

While it included four women, including one Latina, the chief’s appointments did not include any African Americans.

Tyrone Terrill, president of the African-American Leadership Council, said in a news release he was “extremely disappointed” in the chief’s appointments.

“For the first time in 30 years Chief Henry has decided that there will not be an African American at the SPPD leadership table,” Terrill said.

The St. Paul Police department has a long history of hiring African Americans as police chiefs dating back to 1992 when William Finney was hired. He was followed by Chiefs John Harrington and Thomas Smith, who considered himself biracial. Deputy Chief Don Benner, who was African American, retired earlier this year.

The department currently has two commanders who are African American. Each have two years experience in that role.

“Career and leadership development for all employees is something I care deeply about,” Henry said in a statement. “This is particularly important for our command staff, of which over 50 percent have two years of experience or less. This is a challenge that precedes my appointment as chief one month ago. Like recruitment, leadership development at every rank has great value and meaning to me. Especially at the highest ranks of our agency. I shared these values and goals with Mayor Carter when I interviewed for the chiefs position, and he shares my vision for our department.”

Terrill asked that the chief and Mayor Melvin Carter “reevaluate this decision and make diversity, equity and inclusion real in SPPD.”

Carter said in a statement: “Our police department is one of the finest agencies on the planet, thanks to a long history of strong and capable leadership. I’m confident in our leadership team’s ability to continue that tradition, while reestablishing our focus on developing the diverse pool of leaders who will guide the department into the future.”

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