The next Sioux Falls Police Chief will be Lt. Matt Burns.
Mayor Mike Huether named Burns to take over the department once current Chief Doug Barthel retires. Barthel announced last week that he will retire in October.
Burns is a 19-year veteran of the Sioux Falls Police Department. He was promoted to assistant police chief earlier in the year.
Huether hopes that Burns will be able to work closely with Barthel in the coming months and learn what he can from the outgoing chief.
The city council must approve of the nomination.
Just a few months ago, Matt was promoted to Assistant Chief, now just a week after Barthel’s retirement announcement, Matt is promoted again. And as I understand it, the city council wasn’t told about the promotion until minutes before the 10:30 police briefing today where it was announced.
Well it seems like most things ‘Huether’ another decision ram-rodded through? But it also makes you wonder if this has been in the works for months? Nothing against Matt, I’m sure he will do a fine job, but some may be wondering why not a national search? Especially with crime soaring over the past week (ironically since Barthel’s announcement where the mayor accused ‘naysayers’ of blowing the crime growth out of proportion) we have had stabbings, shootings, a physical attack, widespread vandalism, and home invasions (in almost every zone of the city). Seems Matt may have his work cut out for him.
Once again though, the mayor denies transparency to his legislative branch and ram rods something through. Screw the naysayers.
Funny how the exact moment this guy was being announced there was a manhunt in the east side of town that had an entire neighborhood shut down.
Boomtown!
BTW, I was reading a news article the other day that said we are at 174,000 in SF now. I thought just a couple of months ago it was 170,000. Do they count the population every week so we can justify for more city borrowing?
It’s the jazzfest method of counting.
Taxi robbery last night. They must carry cash. Answer is Lyft or Uber. They’re paid with PayPal, no cash. Prearranged background check both passenger and driver. Personal vehicles unrecognizable.
Huether’s mistaken, it’s common sense that crime increases as a city grows. Increases in small robberies and petty theft because the general population suffers with no help from the city. No social programs but plenty of budget for indoor sports and an oversized events center.
It’s a great city for indoor tennis, swim teams, and concerts. Most live paycheck to paycheck working several jobs. They don’t have play time but their taxes provide entertainment for the affluent minority. When the city becomes involved in assisting the forgotten majority, crime will be less a problem.
I think if they tried to do a nationwide search, no one would take the city director jobs. Since you serve at the mayor’s discretion, with no contract, you could move here just to be out of a job a year later.
We’re stuck with the best Sioux Falls has to offer, and those dumb enough to move here from Watertown.
Doesn’t seem to be relevant since the only ones who last are yes men anyway.
Sheeple, you have a point. it’s hard to find a good brain dead groupie. Pay is average or better but there are no professionals responding. Perhaps the only ones the mayor approves are those that can be hypnotized. What especially amazes me is the council is never involved. You’d think they’d get tired of just voting on temporary liquor services.