Committee forwards Dr. Reginald Freeman’s fire-chief nomination to full council after public hearing and questioning

Chair Jason Chavez opened a public hearing July 22 on Mayor Frey’s nomination of Dr. Reginald Freeman as chief of the Minneapolis Fire Department and invited Commissioner Todd Barnett to introduce the candidate. Barnett described a national search and praised Freeman’s record in Oakland and Hartford, highlighting his focus on firefighter health, pipeline recruitment and community engagement.

Union and retired-firefighter witnesses testified in support. A union representative who identified himself as Mark told the committee that “if you can find anybody on paper more qualified in the country, please let me know,” and Joseph Madison, a retired deputy chief of training, urged prompt action so a new chief could begin restoring morale.

Freeman gave a statement outlining priorities if confirmed: strengthening firefighter safety and wellness programs, expanding professional development and training, using data to guide operational readiness and pursuing community-centered public safety partnerships. He thanked Mayor Frey and interim Chief Melanie Rucker and pledged to ‘‘earn trust every single day.’’

Council members then questioned Freeman about what he would change in Minneapolis, his experience managing large budgets, and his plans to address staffing and overtime. Freeman said he would perform a deep organizational review, pull five years of budget data and consider zero-based budgeting to align spending with operations. On overtime, he cited understaffing—fewer members on the books than positions budgeted—as a key driver and said filling vacancies was a priority to reduce reliance on overtime.

Vice Chair Stevenson raised questions about a gender-discrimination lawsuit that had been reported in Hartford while Freeman led that department; Freeman said he was not named in the suit and that he had acted swiftly when issues were brought to his attention. Council members also pressed Freeman on the behavioral crisis response program and whether it should remain under fire department oversight; Freeman described experience with Oakland’s mobile assistance model and said such programs can succeed as civilian-staffed teams managed from within fire or other city units when properly funded and coordinated.

After discussion of budget pressures—members cited multi‑million‑dollar overages and projected budget gaps—the committee voted to move the nomination to the full City Council without a committee recommendation. Chair Chavez made the motion and Council member Whiting seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The full Council will take up confirmation next Thursday.