After 30+ years, St. Paul police chief to retire Wednesday

By KSTP

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Wednesday will mark the end of a very long chapter in the life of St. Paul’s current police chief.

Chief Todd Axtell will be retiring Wednesday after spending more than three decades with the St. Paul Police Department.

To commemorate the day, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan declared Wednesday as Chief Todd Axtell Day in Minnesota. You can read their full proclamation below. Wednesday was also previously declared as Todd Axtell Day by the St. Paul City Council.

Axtell was also honored during the annual Blue Nite Gala last month, as he led the department for six years.

RELATED: St. Paul Police Foundation hosts annual Blue Nite Gala, bids farewell to Chief Axtell

During a sit-down interview with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Chief Political reporter Tom Hauser, Axtell said his time in the role was memorable, but the position takes a toll.

“Even though you’re surrounded by a lot of wonderful people and you’re never alone, but it can be a lonely job when you are the tip of the spear of an organization,” said Axtell.

As previously reported, after Axtell leaves, current Deputy Chief Jeremy Ellison will serve as the city’s interim chief. He was named interim chief about a month ago.

Ellison has previously said he doesn’t plan to seek the permanent job.

RELATED: Deputy Chief Jeremy Ellison tapped as St. Paul’s interim police chief

A search committee is continuing to look for a permanent replacement. The committee is co-chaired by Sasha Cotton and Kathy Lantry.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has previously reported on the committee’s co-chairs – Cotton is the director of the Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention, and is a lifelong St. Paul resident. Lantry represented Ward 7 on the St. Paul City Council for nearly 18 years, and also served as council president for 11 of those years. She also served as the Public Works Director before retiring in March of 2020.

RELATED: City announces names of St. Paul police chief examining committee members