Brooklyn Center Announces Police Chief Finalists
Brooklyn Center announced Friday the names of two finalists to fill the city’s vacant police chief role.
The finalists include Kathy Hughes, current director of security for the Robbinsdale School District. According to her LinkedIn profile, Hughes was also the former emergency communications director for the city of Minneapolis for a nearly two-year period ending in 2021. Prior to that, Hughes was a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office captain for more than 30 years.
The other finalist is Kellace McDaniel, a lieutenant for the past 13 years with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to that role, McDaniel worked as a corrections officer for more than seven years with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
A release from the city says that there was a national search that resulted in 10 applications.
The city has gone without a permanent police chief since April 2021, when Tim Gannon resigned from the role following the shooting of Daunte Wright by former officer Kim Potter. Tony Gruenig, who was previously a Brooklyn Center police commander, has served as interim police chief.
There will be a “meet and greet” with the two finalists on Monday, May 16, starting at 5:30 p.m. During the event, the candidates will be introduced, hear responses from prepared questions, and then answer questions that have been collected from the people attending the in-person event. There will also be a virtual meeting option. The city says the purpose of the event is “to continue engaging residents in the hiring process.”
The city says the in-person meet and greet on May 16 is by invite only due to limited space. Participants have to RSVP in advance.
The meet and greet will be facilitated by Michael Jordan, a former Minnesota public safety commissioner, and John Fennig. Both are affiliated with DRI Consulting, the consulting firm hired to assist in the search. Following the meet and greet, DRI Consulting will provide a community feedback report to the city manager, which will be used in the final hiring selection by the city manager.
