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Burnsville honors retiring Police Chief Tanya Schwartz with key to the city
Summary
The council recognized Police Chief Tanya Schwartz for 31 years of service, presented a proclamation and the key to the city, and accepted her remarks reflecting on her career, the department's losses, and confidence in incoming chief Matt Smith.
The Burnsville City Council formally recognized Police Chief Tanya Schwartz for 31 years of service and presented her with a proclamation and the key to the city.
City Manager Greg Lindbergh introduced Chief Schwartz's record, saying she became Burnsville's seventh police chief in 2019 after rising through the department and that her leadership emphasized community‑oriented policing. Mayor Elizabeth Kautz read a proclamation commending Schwartz's professionalism and steady leadership, citing the city's response to the February 18 tragedy as an example of her steadiness.
Chief Schwartz accepted the honor and reflected on her career and gratitude to family and staff. She referenced the department's losses, stating, "Losing them was heartbreaking for all of us," when mentioning officers Matthew Rugi and Paul Elmstrand and firefighter‑paramedic Adam Finseth. She said she is "moving into retirement with absolute confidence in our next police chief, Matt Smith."
Council members moved to add the key‑to‑the‑city presentation to the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; the motion to add the item and the later consent agenda adoption carried on voice votes as recorded in the transcript. The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally for those motions.
What happens next: the proclamation and key were presented during the meeting; the council noted photo logistics and refreshments following the recognition.
