Local Boy Newest Roseville Police Officer

Colin McDonagh, a Roseville native, was sworn in as a police officer in a Friday afternoon ceremony conducted by Roseville Police Chief Rick Mathwig in the City Council chamber.

After graduating from high school in 2006, McDonagh studied law enforcement at Century College and Hennepin Technical College.

After college, McDonagh landed a job with Roseville’s parks department and, a year ago, joined the Roseville Police department’s Community Service Officer (CSO) program, where Mathwig said he excelled.

“Within a couple months [of his starting as a CSO] I had people tell me, ‘When you get a job opening, he’s the person,’” Mathwig said at his swearing-in ceremony.

Mathwig spoke about the seriousness of the duties of a police officer, comically contrasting the rigor of the job with McDonagh’s responsibilities as a CSO.

“After a year of working with the police department, Colin was able to capture one of Roseville’s most elusive and sneaky stray dogs,” Mathwig said in his speech. “Really action-packed resume as a CSO for a year—that’s the best we can do.”

McDonagh lived the first six years of his life in Roseville, before moving to Arden Hills. His father, Sean, grew up in Roseville and has worked for the fire department and , and his mother, Patty, has worked for Mounds View School District for 18 years.

At the ceremony, Colin thanked family members sitting in the front row for their support.

“Couldn’t have gotten this far without you, and I look forward to a long career working in Roseville,” he said.