Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Rick Swanson Retirment after 29 years - 10/7/2004 (2) r �KLOD
SUNM . I .,
Eagan edition CURREN. T
--
Clos*ingon three decadesi*
Eagan Police Department as a captain with the department
Capt.Rick Swanson retires Sept.29.
p Over the years, Swanson has
after 29 years with squad seen a lot of changes in Eagan,
both in the city and in the jobs po-
BY JOSHUA Nicxors lice officers do.
Sun Newspapers When he started with the city,
the squad cars did not have the 4f'-
Rick Swanson knows the same type of light bars on their
streets of Eagan well.After all,he roofs like they do today. Instead
started patrolling them nearly they had little "gumball" lights
three decades ago as an Eagan Po- that sat on each side of the roof.
lice officer. "They used to start to freeze up ;y
Of course, there were a lot in the cold weather and it would
fewer streets back then and only get so bad they would barely ro- y
some of them were paved. tate,"Swanson said.
"There might have been 15,000 "So we had to pull into the
population at that time so most of garage stall, take the globes off
what's here today wasn't here them and spray them with WD-40
then," Swanson said. "So, there to get them to turn so that if we
were a lot of boring nights then actually had to make a traffic
quite frankly.You could go almost stop,they would work."
an entire night without any major Police officers had portable
call." hand-held radios in those days,
Swanson joined the Eagan Po- but it was hit or miss[on how well
lice Department as a patrol officer they worked because of the topog-
fresh out of what was then known raphy in Eagan], depending on
as Inver Hills Junior College in where in the city you were.
October 1975. Nearly 29 years Eagan Police Capt. Rick Swanson starte
later, he wrapped up his last day SWANSON:To Page 14A was fresh out of Inver Hills Community C
14A Apple Valley/Rosemount,Eagan Sun•Current/Thursday,Oct.7,2004
SwanIt wasn't long after Swanson joined out
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS Son the city that he found himself earning nes,
his first promotion to sergeant in 1983. desk
When current Eagan Mayor Pat Geagan 661
:I' :�vda � O(; . From Page lA became police chief in 1989, Swanson you,
earned another promotion to liuetenant. roux
IN THE COMMUNITY: AIM to Suc- It was a far cry from the squad cars of The lieutenant position was eliminat- mos
ceed-Women's Business Group, open today, which feature computers with In- ed in 1993 and Swanson received the new Thei
house,free, 8-9:30 a.m., Eagan Commu- ternet connections, digital fingerprint- rank of captain. For a few months after "]
nity Center, 1501 Central Parkway. Infor- ing equipment and more. Geagan retired in 1999 and before cur- that
mation:952-461-1105. He was 13 when he got his first look at rent Police Chief Kent Therkelsen was help
Eagan. When his family moved from St. hired, Swanson also served as interim keys
Saturdqy, OcL C Paul to the northern portion of Eagan, chief. help
Swanson wasn't sure at first about his "I never looked at myself as chief ma- "]
IN THE COMMUNITY: Tours of the new home. terial"he said. "It was something that I that
Sibley House and the eating habits of the "I thought my dad had moved me into didn't really want to do.The politics and coul
1840s will be featured Oct. 9 and 10. some God-forsaken farm country," he such,that just wasn't my bag." fling
Learn about the Faribault Hotel and its op- said. "Being from the city,the Lexington Swanson met his wife, Kristi Peter- S1
eration.Tour is 10 a.m.to 3:45 p.m.Cost and University area, everything was son on the"ob.He worked with Peterson
is$5 adults, $4 seniors, $2 children ages � J year;
6-12, and free for under age 6.The sites around us and then we came out to no- the city's IT director, to help design the to fr(
are in Mendota on Highway 13. Informa- man's land." current Municipal Center and they hunt
tion:651-452-1596. He ended up living in Eagan for years ended up getting married shortly after ficia
after that,attending Arch Bishop Brady the building opened. read
1 ond(�Y, Oct. I I High School in West St.Paul before going "He's been easy to work with actual- hunt
on to Inver Hills to earn his criminal jus- ly,"Peterson said."It will change his life; Hi
IN THE COMMUNITY: The Guild of tice degree. it will change ours,too." his f,
Catholic Women Inc.'s fall gathering to He gravitated toward a career in law Therkelsen said even before he came in tb
honor past presidents and welcome new enforcement thanks to the influence of to the Eagan Police Department from lis,h
members, 8:45 a.m.with Mass at 10 and his uncle, Dean Swanson, who was a Bloomington, he knew Swanson by his son x
brunch at 10:30 a.m.,Mendakota Country State Patrol officer. He rode with his reputation and that he was the first per- mons
Club, Mendota Heights.Cost is$20, reg- uncle on patrol multiple times and dis- son he called in the department when he Corp
istration required in advance.Information: covered that he had found what he want- heard the chief position was opening. beco�
651-450-2217, Ext.10. ed to do with the rest of his life. "I don't think there is a more loyal or "I
, ('m't*' 1 Oct �% "I liked the excitement of riding with dedicated public servant than Rick easy,
my uncle and he didn't work in an office, Swanson," Therkelsen said. "The thing week
IN THE COMMUNITY: A workshop is although here I am now doing office work about Rick is it was never about him,but letter
planned to help school staff and others for about 15 years,"he said. "I just liked about providing the best possible police ally c
who work with youth reduce the number of the excitement and it wasn't a typical service for the people of Eagan." am gi
incidents and severity of bullying.The Vio- nine to five,Monday through Friday job." Therkelsen said the thing that stood dous-.
lence Prevention Initiative of Dakota
r'ni inti tho ngknta C;cunty Public Health