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Farmington • Rosemount
DakotaCountyTribune.com
Feb. 8, 2019 • Volume 133 • Number 49
Farmington’s new police chief is focused on the future Acting chief Gary Rutherford officially sworn in Feb. 4 by Jody Peters SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Though he’s spent over 22 years in law enforcement, Gary Rutherford said he never gave serious consideration to being a police chief until six months ago. For one thing, he already had his dream job. Rutherford had served as a patrol sergeant with the Farmington Police Department since January 2007, a position he describes as “hands-down, without question, the best job in law enforcement.” For another thing, his appointment as acting police chief in August came about under “not ideal” circumstances, he said. The city had reached a separation agreement with then-chief Brian Lindquist, which came as a surprise to many. For Rutherford, who had served with Lindquist since he joined the Farmington Police Department in April 2002, it was a tough time. “Brian and I were close … and that made it hard. It really did. It still does,” Rutherford said. But rather than focus on the events of last August, Rutherford said he separated his personal feelings and opinions from his job duties.
Chief Gary Rutherford “The reality was, there was nothing that I was going to do that was going to change anything that had happened or was going to happen,” Rutherford said. “So I put all of my focus onto people that were here and keeping my eyes looking toward the future.” That attitude hasn’t been just talk.
Since his appointment as acting chief, Rutherford has introduced himself to City Council members, invited department heads to monthly sergeant meetings and sent out a weekly department update to the city administrator and council. He’s also been a frequent presence at City Council meetings and has introduced departmental changes to increase communication. For example, the police department had more officers at the Farmington Community Expo than it ever has, according to Sgt. Jim Constantineau, and it has upped its presence on social media. “Lack of communication and an unwillingness to work with others,” were cited by Council Member Katie Bernhjelm as reasons for parting ways with Lindquist, so Rutherford’s willingness to move in a different direction has been appreciated, she said. “Since August, (Rutherford) has massively improved communication with the council through weekly updates, he is present at meetings, and has been very approachable. I appreciate his open and timely communication, and the respect he shows to everyone he works with,” Bernhjelm wrote in an email to the newspaper. Constantineau, who has worked See Rutherford, 10A
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One killed, another injured in Hampton home explosion by Philip Weyhe SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
while others searched for the man’s spouse. The man was later taken to Regions Hospital Burn Center for care. According to the release, at about 8:55 a.m., more than two hours after the original call, a body was recovered from within the blast debris. There is no confirmation as to the body’s identity, but law enforcement believe the man and his wife were the only occupants inside the home at the time of the explosion. The Sheriff’s Office says it received reports from those that heard the explosion in Hastings, some 12 miles away. Identification of the victims will be released once confirmed and family members are notified.
An explosion in a Hampton home in southern Dakota County early Tuesday morning left one person dead and another badly burned. According to a release from the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, at 6:14 a.m. deputies and first responders from Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service and Randolph/ Hampton Fire Service were dispatched to a reported house explosion at 24705 Lewiston Boulevard, just south of Hampton. When they arrived, Dakota County deputies saw a man wandering with severe burns over much of his body. He told the deputies that he was looking for his wife. Reach associate editor Responders began pro- Philip Weyhe at 507-645viding care and first aid, 1115.
Starting Community Conversations Local group organizes Race Matters sessions in Rosemount by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The southern suburbs of the Twin Cites are becoming more diverse places, and a discussion series in Rosemount aims to make the community more welcoming to people of all backgrounds. The three-part Community Conversations – Race Matters will be held on three Thursday evenings in the next three months.
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“We wanted to do a series about challenging issues in our society,” said the Rev. Karen Bruins, of The Well of Rosemount and Apple Valley, “something that would create wonder, learning and connections with one another.” The event, which will be held in the Rosemount Community Center banquet room, will focus on topics such as creating a welcoming community, leveraging diversity and
navigating privilege and bias. Each of the three nights will be led by a panel of speakers, a group question-and-answer session and small group discussion. “We want to make this a safe place to (ask questions and talk about these topics),” Bruins said. Although The Well, a United Methodist Church, is organizing the series, the sessions will focus on religion only as the topic
emerges through 45 minutes for a discussion. Q and A, and the The first panel balance of the of speakers aptime will be for proach the first small group dissession of Creating cussion. Inclusive & WelShe said the idea coming Communi- Shawn for Community Mark Kao Kalia ties from a variety Moore C o nve r s at i o n s Sundby Yang of perspectives. came from one of Shawn Moore is a pas- Each of them represents the church’s core values of tor, former police officer a different ethnic back- being inclusive. and veteran; Kao Kalia ground. “We asked how do we Bruins said they will bring that core value out Yang is a speaker and author, and Mark Sundby is each speak for seven min- in the community,” Bruins a teacher and counselor utes at the start of the said. in the field of psychology. 90-minute session, allow See Series, 24A
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