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After 33 years of public service with the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD), Police Chief Todd Axtell is set to retire next month.

Chief Axtell told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the recently announced crackdown on violent criminals by U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Andy Luger will help local law enforcement by keeping violent criminals behind bars longer.

Axtell said that’s because federal sentences are usually more punitive than state convictions.

“It has a significant impact, and it’s also going to have a significant impact on the people who are committing these crimes,” Axtell said. “Because word spreads fast when they start to pick up federal offenses where there’s significant jail time for committing violent crimes, including carjackings in our community, it will have a great impact, and I am looking forward to it.”