Command/HQ

St. Paul Mayor Names Longtime PD Member Interim Chief

May 4, 2022

Deputy Chief Jeremy Ellison, who has been with the force since 1999, will take over the St. Paul Police Department when the current chief, Todd Axtell, steps down on June 1.

By Mara H. Gottfried

Source Pioneer Press

A longtime member of the St. Paul police department will serve as interim chief, Mayor Melvin Carter announced Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Jeremy Ellison will take the department’s helm when Todd Axtell steps down on June 1.

Ellison joined the St. Paul police department in 1999 as a park ranger and was hired as an officer in 2000. He rose through the department’s ranks and currently oversees the department’s support services division.

“We have the support and trust of the city and the people that we serve, people who do not want to see sweeping changes in the programs that we’re delivering,” Ellison said.

Axtell, whose six-year term as chief is nearing an end, announced last fall that he would not seek another term.

Ellison has stated he’s not planning on applying to be permanent chief at this point, despite Carter’s encouragement, the mayor said Wednesday.

St. Paul Human Resources is in the process of contracting with a firm to conduct a national search for the next police chief. The city’s police chiefs have traditionally been selected from within the department’s ranks and Carter said Wednesday he expects to see strong internal candidates.

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