Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Pat Geagan retiring as Eagan Police Chief - 3/13/1999 Geagan retiringas
Eagan 's O Ce chief
AMY SHERMAN STAFF WRITER to hold a community meeting
about a sex offender moving into
the city. More than 1,000 people
fter spending his entire law showed up for that meeting.
enforcement career in Eagan, The fact that the chief has
Chief Patrick Geagan is retiring. remained an Eagan resident —
Geagan will retire in August even though laws do not require
shortly after turning 55, the age him to live in the city anymore — Celebrate 30 years service
when officers typically retire by to shows that he believes his support
get the most from their pension. base comes from the public, Capt. with Police Chief Geagan
The police chief entered law Rick Swanson said. "He's always
enforcement on a whim. After a there to take time to talk to Citi- Chief Patrick Geagan,a mainstay of
lousy day at work in the late zens and address the concerns, the Eagan Police Department for the
1960s, Geagan found something issues they have," said Swanson, j past,30 years, is stepping down. He is
more appealing in the classifieds who has worked under Geagan for retiring on Aug. 27. There will be an
than his newspaper circulation job: open house for the retiring chief start-
an
J about 24 years. He is very visible." �
4 an opening for a police officer in Geagan said he has no plans to ing at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 for social
V1 Eagan Township. move out of the community when hour. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. at
V1 He applied and got an interview, he retires. "This is home," he said. Royal Cliff at 2280 C 1 i ff Road in
4, but the job went to someone else. A Tom Hedges, Eagan's city admin- Eagan.
year later, in 1969, the chief gave istrator, said he expects the city to Reservations for the event should be
Geagan badge No. 8 and a part- hire an outside firm to help find a sent to Linda Bent at the Eagan Police
time job. After getting hired, he new chief. Hedges said it could take Department.
earned degrees in criminal justice up to eight months. An acting chief Whether attending the retirement
at Inver Hills Community College will be appointed if a full-time chief party for minutes or for dinner,everyone
W and Metropolitan State University. has not been chosen by late August. is welcome to the social hour.
Geagan rose through the ranks and Hedges praised Geagan for Information;651-681-4704.
became chief in 1989. Today he over- introducing community policing to
sees a staff of almost 100, including Eagan. His retirement will be a
officers and civilian employees. big loss to the city.
�. Geagan said he is most proud of "Pat Geagan is truly a leader."
:3 how the department kept up with
�Q the city's growth and established a Amy Sherman,who covers Eagan, Inver
program that helped the city Grove Heights and Rosemount,can be
recruit more officers of color and reached at asherman@
women. Eagan was also the first pioneerpress.com or(651)228-2174.