St. Louis Park City Manager Selects New Police Chief

There's a new sheriff in town, or rather, a new police chief. St. Louis Park City Manager Tom Harmening has selected Lt. Mike Harcey of the St. Louis Park Police Department as the department’s next police chief.

“Lt. Harcey epitomizes the true meaning of being a servant leader, which is the leadership the department needs, as does the community,” Harmening said in a statement.

“He is the right person at the right time to be chief.”

Harcey has been with the St. Louis Park Police Department since 1991, first serving as a police officer and school liaison officer.

He was promoted to sergeant in 2000 and to lieutenant in 2006.

Prior to joining the St. Louis Park Police Department, Harcey worked for the Richfield Police Department as a dispatcher and community service officer.

He has a master of arts degree in police leadership from St. Thomas University, a bachelor of arts in sociology of law, criminology and deviance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and an associate’s of applied science degree in law enforcement from Normandale Community College in Bloomington.

“It has been my honor to serve the citizens of St. Louis Park alongside the exceptional officers, civilian staff and volunteers that I have worked with for the last 25 years,” said Lt. Harcey.

“I am humbled to have been selected as the next chief of police and I look forward to working in partnership with the community to provide the highest quality police services.”

After St. Louis Park Police Chief John Luse announced his retirement effective the end of 2016, the city embarked on an exhaustive search for a new police chief.

That included working with an executive search firm to attract a large pool of candidates that was then narrowed down through a series of interview steps, according to a news release.

The final three candidates, including Harcey, were interviewed by panels of city senior staff and community members, met with police department sworn and civilian staff, and participated in two open houses at which members of the public could meet and comment on the candidates.

All of the feedback received throughout the process was taken into account during the final selection.

According to the City Charter, appointments made by the city manager require consent of the city council.

The city council will consider consent of the police chief appointment at its regular meeting Monday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park. If consent is granted, Lt. Harcey will be sworn in as police chief at the same meeting. He would then assume his official duties March 21, 2017. One of Lt. Harcey’s first tasks will be to fill the department’s deputy chief position, also left vacant at the end of 2016 due to a retirement.

Since January, Lt. Chad Kraayenbrink has served as interim police chief for the department.

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