Todd Douglas Axtell
Todd Douglas Axtell (born May 8, 1968) is an American law enforcement officer who served as the chief of police for the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from June 23, 2016, to June 1, 2022.[1]
Prior to his appointment as police chief, Axtell served as an assistant chief, senior commander, sergeant and police officer with the Saint Paul Police Department as well as a police officer with the Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes Police Departments in north-central Minnesota.
Early life and education
Axtell grew up in Northfield, Silver Bay and Brainerd, Minnesota. He graduated from Brainerd High School and then studied law enforcement at Alexandria Vocational Technical & Community College, where he earned an associate degree.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in law enforcement from Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, a Master of Arts degree in police leadership, administration and education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
In addition, Axtell is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the DEA Drug Unit Commander's Academy and the St. Paul Mayor's Leadership Academy.[2]
Career
Axtell began his career in law enforcement with the Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes Police Departments in 1988 as a police officer. He also served as an undercover operative for the Heartland Drug Task Force.
In 1989, he joined the Saint Paul Police Department as a police officer with the Eastern Patrol District. Five years later he joined the department's FORCE (Focusing Our Resources on Community Empowerment) Unit.
In 1998, Axtell was promoted to sergeant of the FORCE Unit. Later that year he was appointed by Chief William Finney to serve as an inspector.[3][not in citation given]
In 1999, Axtell was promoted to the position of chief inspector. He was named police chief in 2016. He oversaw more than 800 sworn officers and civilian employees for six years in the state's capital city. Axtell led Minnesota's oldest police department through historic civil unrest in 2020 and 2021 and numerous high-profile cases.
Following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in neighboring Minneapolis, Axtell was one of the first police chiefs in the country to tell officers who agreed with the excessive force used by former officer Derek Chauvin to turn in their badges.[4]
Under his leadership, the Saint Paul Police Department saw a 41% increase in its number of diverse employees. Axtell's commitment to excellence helped elevate the Saint Paul Police Department as one of the most respected in the country and as a national and statewide model for 21st-century policing. Axtell's innovative training programs and commitment to trust and transparency are emulated by police departments across the country.
Axtell has served on the board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).[5]
Axtell retired from the Saint Paul Police Department on June 1, 2022.[6][7] Minnesota governor Tim Walz declared June 1, 2022, Todd Axtell Day for championing community engagement, accountability and public safety throughout his career.[8][9]
Axtell founded The Axtell Group in 2022,[10] a risk mitigation and management firm that specializes in risk mitigation, strategic communications, quality control, change management, and safety and security audits.
References
- ↑ "St. Paul's new police chief: veteran officer Todd Axtell". Twin Cities. 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ↑ 911MEDIA (2022-05-03). "Episode 12: The Bank of Trust | Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell". Fraternal Order of Police. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ↑ "St. Paul Police rename building for former chief". kare11.com. October 15, 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ↑ Police chief: If you think Floyd video shows reasonable force, turn your badge in - CNN Video, retrieved 2022-09-17
- ↑ "Shaping the Future of the Policing Profession | International Association of Chiefs of Police". www.theiacp.org. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
- ↑ Galioto, Katie; Tribune, Liz Sawyer Star. "Todd Axtell retiring today as St. Paul police chief: 'He's going to be missed'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ↑ "'Heart Of The Guardian': St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell Reflects On 33-Year Career". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ↑ "Gov. Tim Walz declares June 1, 2022, Todd Axtell Day in Minnesota for championing community engagement, accountability, and public safety throughout his career". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
- ↑ St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell's Final Day, retrieved 2022-09-17
- ↑ "The Axtell Group | Building Your Bank of Trust". The Axtell Group. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
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