Police Chief Pete Gauntlett, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving as Chief for the past 11 years, was honored by the St. Cloud City Council at Thursday’s City Council meeting.
“I’m sure everyone in this room could recount a way that Chief Gauntlett has had a meaningful impact on their lives during his time in St. Cloud,” City Manager Bill Sturgeon said. “He’s been a champion for the police department, for the hiring of military veterans to serve in law enforcement positions, and for the safety of our community. He has worked tirelessly to help make sure our police department has the tools and personnel it needs to meet the needs of our citizens.”
Sturgeon went on to applaud Chief Gauntlett’s efforts in establishing the Real-Time Crime Center. “The city owes you a debt of gratitude for your years of service. The Department is better now than it was when you got here, and you leave it well-positioned to continue to grow and meet the needs of our growing community.”
Following a standing ovation from the audience, Chief Gauntlett noted that St. Cloud consistently ranks in the top 20 safest communities in the state, and noted that the crime rate is 40 percent lower now than when he took the job. Chief Gauntlett then announced that the Police Department today was reaccredited for another three years, noting that only about 30 percent of law enforcement agencies are accredited.
He also introduced members of the SCPD SWAT team, who recently took top honors in an international SWAT team competition in the small agency category.
