Roger New says he has tried to serve as the people’s police chief. Now he’s set to retire in the fall and let new leadership take over the Eagan Police Department.
“I worked on their behalf,” New said. “I served every day on behalf of the citizens of the city of Eagan.”
Eagan Police Chief Roger New will retire in the fall of 2025. (Courtesy of the City of Eagan)
In 1994, New was sworn in as an officer in Eagan, and for 31 years he’s served with the city’s police department, spending the last seven of those years as chief of police. His efforts helped shape the department through “innovative practices, a strong emphasis on community partnerships and a deep commitment to organizational culture,” according to a city statement.
“I’ve tried to remain as loyal as possible to the city, and I’ve worked hard every day to prove that to the people who opened the door for me and gave me the opportunity, and I have no regrets,” New said.
At an early age, New became interested in policing because of his core desire to help others, he said – something he believes all officers should share.
New’s service with the department has focused on others through community involvement, staff development and relationship building, Mayor Mike Maguire said.
“Chief New has been a steadfast and visionary leader,” Maguire said in the city’s announcement. “His integrity, professionalism and commitment to building trust with our community have left a lasting legacy.”
In his role as chief, New said he and other officers lean into community engagement to help build support not just in Eagan, but across the entire state.
“I think that starts with sitting down and having a cup of coffee with just about anybody that comes and knocks on the door,” New said.
Policing post-George Floyd
As an officer working during the time of George Floyd’s murder, New said 2020 and the years that followed were some of the toughest times for law enforcement on a grand scale.
As a Black man, New said he himself has experienced discrimination within law enforcement and from the general public. Policing at the time of Floyd’s murder impacted his family, as well as how people interact with and view police in Minnesota, he said.
“Each day I donned the uniform, I was truly trying to project an image for the profession as a whole, on how we should do it professionally, respectfully, and along the way, trying to build connections with our community members, because without their support, we can’t do what we do,” New said.
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He said he remembers a time when two women came to him furious with policing and disappointed by how they felt it failed the Black community. As a department, New said they leaned into the conversation with a listening ear. He said the department built relationships with the women, who now join them annually at National Night Out and have become friends.
“I think we’ve gotten to that place because we both decided to start from a place of listening and being patient and trying to understand how things were and are moving forward,” New said.
One thing New said he hopes is that ‘level-headed’ officers will have more prominent seats at the table when laws and efforts are being formed that involve law enforcement – something he said he’s noticed less of after Floyd’s murder.
“We were pushed to the sidelines, where many of our elected officials weren’t seeking the feedback of law enforcement,” New said.
Championing innovation and well-being
New said it’s important for law enforcement to feel supported in their mental health, and he encourages that every officer utilize a resource they are often provided through the job: “Every staff member in law enforcement needs to go to see a therapist once a year, just check in and see how things are going.”
To do the job well, support the community and show up for their families, Officers must prioritize their health, he said, which is an effort he’s championed in Eagan.
“Our goal is that we want people to be as mentally, physically and financially well on their last day of work as much as they are on their very first day of work,” New said.
Eagan’s police department has taken a proactive approach to innovation and technology, New said. The department was one of the first agencies to implement drones into operations, he said. They also have their own forensic lab and utilize talented people and unique software technology to help solve cases.
“Policing 30 years from now will look vastly different, and during my career, I’ve seen the technology boom occur right in front of our face,” New said. “It’s only going to continue to evolve, and I think it’s important to really recognize that and continue to be forward thinkers.”
Looking forward
New said he’s not retiring because he wants to, necessarily, but rather that he’s recognized he’s served his time and is ready to pass the mantel to other strong leaders.
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“It’s bittersweet,” New said, his voice showing the emotion. “I have a great sense of pride and respect for what I do and what we do in this profession. I thoroughly enjoy working in the Eagan community, but the time has come for me to step away.”
The first thing he’ll do as a retired chief is sleep, he said.
“As the chief of police, you have many, many sleepless nights, and to have that opportunity to get a full night’s rest, I’m kind of looking forward to that,” New said. “But I will thoroughly miss the people here at the police dpartment and in the community.”
New will serve in his role as Eagan’s Police Chief until the fall, as officials ensure a seamless and high-quality transition, according to the city.
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