Golden Valley swears in first Black police chief

Virgil Green Sr. became Golden Valley’s first Black police chief during a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday night.

The audience broke into applause after Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison administered the oath of office in the Golden Valley City Council chambers.

“On this special day — to be chosen as the first African American male to be the police chief in Golden Valley is something that nobody can take away from you,” Green said during the ceremony.

Green most recently worked for the Tulsa, Oklahoma, school district’s police department. He accepted the job in March but could not be officially sworn in until he satisfied the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board’s reciprocity licensure requirements. He has been working desk duties in the meantime.

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Green inherited a police department that — like many other Minnesota law enforcement agencies — is in the midst of a staffing shortage. He told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS in June that GVPD is budgeted for 31 police officers but only had 15 on duty.