Brooklyn Center has a new police chief

Brooklyn Center has found its next police chief.

Garett Flesland, an area native and and longtime officer at the agency, was named the city's newest chief this week.

Flesland had been serving Brooklyn Center Police Department as a commander. He began work at the department in 2001, working his way up from patrol officer to detective, sergeant to commander. According to the department, Flesland has been the agency's public information officer, as well as supervised the patrol, investigations and community services divisions.

The Brooklyn Center Communications Department called Flesland a "transformative leader with a strong commitment to the City of Brooklyn Center."

Flesland is also a Navy veteran, serving first as an enlisted sailor and later as a commissioned officer.

The chief holds a bachelor's in physics from Tulane University, master's in police leadership from the University of St. Thomas, received his law enforcement certificate at Alexandria Technical and Community College, and received the FBI National Academy certificate, according to the department.

Flesland was selected by City Manager Reggie Edwards.

The city wrote that the search for the next chief was nationwide. Involved stakeholders included the Brooklyn Center Police Department, Brooklyn Center Department Heads, Brooklyn Center City Council, Community Members, Brooklyn Center Youth and external law enforcement personnel.

Flesland takes the reins to a changing agency.

Brooklyn Center is planning to launch an alternative response pilot program with mental health workers to positively impact 911 calls.

Earlier this year, the Brooklyn Center City Council narrowly voted down a police reform package related largely to traffic enforcement, that had been researched in light of the shooting death of Daunte Wright. Mayor April Graves told the Sun Post that the council desired to continue working on police reform, but likely not until next year.