4 of 5 St. Paul police chief finalists from within department

By KSTP

The city of St. Paul has announced the five finalists to be the city’s next police chief.

Four of those five candidates already work within the St. Paul Police Department. The finalists are:

  • Dr. Jacqueline Bailey-Davis,
  • Pamela Barragan,
  • Kurtis Hallstrom,
  • Axel Henry, and
  • Stacy Murphy.

The city says the five were advanced by the St. Paul City Council’s Police Chief Examining Committee.

Two public forums have been scheduled: 6 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Washington Technology Magnet School and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 at St. Paul Event Center. The forums will also be streamed live on the city’s Facebook page. Community members can also provide feedback and submit interview questions by emailing Mayor@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

“Selecting a police chief is one of the most critical decisions a community must make,” St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in a statement. “While I look forward to learning more about all of the finalists, our City is blessed to be served by a department with such strong internal candidates.”

RELATED: Mayor Carter invites public input on police chief finalists

Bailey-Davis is a police staff inspector in the Philadelphia Police Department’s Standards and Accountability Division/Audits and Inspections Unit. She first joined the department in 1997 and, in her current role, audits and inspects all department policies and procedures, develops standard operating procedures and advises investigative operations.

Barragan first joined St. Paul Police in 1996 and is currently the unit commander for community partnerships. She manages the sworn and civilian staff, and also is in charge of creating and maintaining partnerships with organizations and the community.

Hallstrom is a senior commander for St. Paul Police. He’s been with SPPD since 1999 after spending three years with the University of Minnesota Police Department. In his current role, he’s responsible for the leadership and management of the city’s eastern district.

Henry has been with St. Paul Police since 1998 after working for Roseville Police for three years. He’s currently the commander of the Narcotics, Financial Intelligence and Human Trafficking Division.

Murphy is currently an assistant police chief for St. Paul Police and oversees the day-to-day operations of 563 sworn employees, 159 civilian staff members and 92 volunteers. She has been with the department since 2022.

Deputy Chief Jeremy Ellison has been leading the department since former Chief Todd Axtell retired on June 1. Ellison didn’t pursue the permanent job.