Minneapolis City Council on Friday
unanimously approved openly gay Janee Harteau as the city's new
police chief.
According to the Minneapolis
Star Tribune, Harteau has been on the force 25 years. She
will replace former chief Tim Dolan, who retired in November.
“I want to thank her for her
willingness to step forward for what is absolutely the toughest job
in the city,” Mayor R.T. Rybak said on Friday.
Harteau vowed to council members after
the vote, “I won't let you down.”
She said that being the city's first
female, openly gay police chief wasn't personally significant.
“For others it might be
[significant],” she said. “And if I can be a role model … I
want people to see that you can achieve things despite some obstacles
in your way. I stand on my merits on how I got here. I've been
given tremendous opportunity.”