Interim MPD Chief Huffman announces administration appointments

Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman introduced her new appointments to the police department administration on Wednesday.

Huffman announced three of the department’s new leadership personnel: Deputy Chief of Professional Standards Troy Schoenberger, Deputy Chief of Staff Christopher Gaites and 3rd Precinct Inspector Jose Gomez.

Over the course of his nearly 24-year career with the Minneapolis Police Department, Schoenberger has served in all five precincts and most recently was the commander of the Internal Affairs Unit. In his new role, he will lead the Administrative Services, Internal Affairs, Technology and Support Services and Training divisions.

“With a history as a supervisor and a commander in multiple assignments, he brings a strong foundation to the work of strengthening our department processes and systems,” Huffman said of Schoenberger.

Gaiters joined the department 28 years ago and worked as a homicide investigator for 14 years. He has also worked as adjunct faculty, teaching police skills at Saint Mary’s University, Hamline University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Hennepin Technical College. He will be in charge of MPD’s recruiting and hiring, background investigations, the Community Service Officers program and ongoing community engagement initiatives.

Huffman lauded Gaiters’ “longstanding connections with those who dream of a career in public service” through his role as an educator and said “he exemplifies our commitment to procedural justice.”

Gomez has been with MPD for almost 28 years and has held leadership positions as a lieutenant in the Juvenile Outreach Division, Gun Violence Response Team and the 3rd Precinct. In his new role, all officers and investigators assigned to the 3rd Precinct will report to him.

Huffman spoke to Gomez’s work on the Violent Offender Task Force and his passion for community engagement, particularly with the youth of Minneapolis.

“He exemplifies our commitment to caring and connection,” she said.

During Wednesday’s news conference, Gomez addressed the ongoing saga of finding a permanent home for the 3rd Precinct, which was burned and vandalized in the riots following George Floyd’s murder in May 2020.

“I believe that we need to be a part of the community,” Gomez said. “… For us to be a part of the community, we need to be part of the neighborhood.”

Huffman said she could not attest to the current state of the former 3rd Precinct building but alluded to the city’s efforts to determine whether the building could be rehabilitated into a usable facility.

Watch the full news conference below: