Document - Historical information/data - Pat Geagan Chief Retires After Thirty Years of Service - 9/1/1999 (2) Fall
1999
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After 30 Years of Service
ollowing a rather bad day at his job at the Minneapolis Geagan has become a highly
Star &Tribune in 1968, Pat Geagan decided to apply respected member of the broader
for a position he'd seen advertised with the Eagan police community and has served
Township Police Department. Then Police Chief Martin as President of the Minnesota
DesLauriers hired someone else for that particular opening, but Chiefs of Police Association and
about six months later, when faced with another officer the Dakota County Chief's
position to fill, he remembered Geagan and called to offer him Association. He has also been
the spot. This time Geagan turned DesLauriers down. Finally involved in numerous community
in November of 1969, DesLauriers called Geagan again and non-profit associations.
offering a position and Geagan accepted. Eagan and Chief Geagan achieved notoriety on a number of
Now, nearly 30 years and numerous promotions later, Pat occasions over the years, with high profile cases solved by the
Geagan is facing retirment from his position as Chief of the Drug Task Force and in a case which ended in landmark
Eagan Police Department. legislation being written involving an infant who had been
Geagan began as a part time Patrol Officer, one of eight shaken. Eagan also set the standard of how public notification
officers then serving Eagan. Officers worked between the hours can happen successfully when it hosted the first ever sex
of 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. and took the squads home when they offender notification meeting in the state.
were done for the evening where they were called to respond Geagan has also worked hard at building a department that
from, as necessary. In 1969 and the early 70's Eagan was a reflects the diversity of the community. "We're not quite
small, primarily agricultural community. Geagan jokes that, there yet, but we were among the first communities to hire a
"Not much happened back then. Sometimes our biggest number of female officers and have hired many very qualified
excitement was when a cow broke loose from its pasture. We individuals of color. I feel it's important that the department
knew the community so well that we often knew where the reflect the make-up of the community it serves, whenever
animals belonged and were able to return them." possible." It is difficult to get Geagan to speak about the
Many of the roads were gravel then and the primary residential things he is most proud of in his career, but he says if he has to
developments were in the Cedar Grove neighborhoods in take credit, Its for hiring good people and empowering them
southwest Eagan and Mckee and Highview neighborhoods in to do thier jobs--and they have done them well. It's a
the northern part of the city. "It was sort of a tangle-town and department I am proud to be a part of.
a bit tough to get around in, so when you did get a call you City Administrator Hedges notes that, "Pat Geagan has
had to be prepared to handle it on your own--at least for a provided great leadership while directing our Police
while until your back-up could find you," said Geagan. Department through many years of rapid growth. He has
"People traveled pretty fast on the gravel roads then. Roads shown the highest level of integrity and dedication and has
were dark and curvey so the accidents we had were often been a tremendous asset to our management team. His
severe." contributions will be missed."
As the community grew, so did the police force, and, with it,
Geagan's career. In 1970 Geagan began full time and by 1973 Search for New Chief Underway
he was promoted to Sergeant. At that time he helped to n May, the City of Eagan hired two consulting firms
develop a number of programs still in effect today including to assist in the recruitment and selection process for a
Operation Identification. Geagan's Chief at the time, Martin new Police Chief.
Deslauriers, recalls that, "Pat was always willing to take the
lead, whether it was with a new program, SWAT teams or in The search focused primarily in the Midwest area. Approx-
investigative team training, often in addition to his work, Pat imately 40 applications were received. An interview panel
went to school to continue learning more--I think he always consisting of City staff, representatives of the Police Chaplains'
had a desire to improve his skills and prepare for bigger Group and the Crime Prevention Commission will interview
things." In 1983, the year DesLauriers retired, Geagan was approximately 10 candidates. A number of these candidates
again promoted to Captain. By 1989, following the retirement will also undergo a skills/aptitude test, followed by a final
of Chief Jay Berthe, Geagan became Eagan's third Police interview selection process conducted by the City Council. It is
Chief. anticipated that the last round of interviews will take place near
Labor Day so that a new Chief can be in place in October.