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.

By JOSH FUNK

Safety experts recommended Wednesday that the engines on Boeing’s troubled 737 Max airplanes be modified quickly to prevent smoke from filling the cockpit or cabin after a safety feature is activated following a bird strike.

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The problem detailed by the National Transportation Safety Board emerged after two bird strikes involving Southwest Airlines planes in 2023 — one in Havana, Cuba, and another in New Orleans. The Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing already warned airlines and pilots about the problem and the engine maker has been working on a fix.

The NTSB said that the engines CFM International makes for the Boeing plane can inadvertently release oil into the hot engine when the safety feature, called a load reduction device, is activated after a bird strike or similar engine issue. The resulting smoke feeds directly into either the cockpit or passenger cabin depending on which engine was struck.

Similar engine models with the same safety feature are also used on Airbus A320neo planes and C919 planes made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. The NTSB urged European and Chinese aviation safety regulators to evaluate those engine models to determine if they could also be susceptible to the smoke problem.

Safety device solved one problem but created another

The new safety device that CFM added to its engines solved one problem by limiting damage when an engine starts to come apart, but created a new problem by releasing the oil that burns and generates smoke.

“This is a case of an unintended consequence of a new and innovative safety idea where if the fan gets unbalanced that this is a way to alleviate the load and thereby doing less damage to the engine, the engine pylon, all of that,” said aviation safety expert John Cox, who is CEO of the Safety Operating Systems consulting firm.

CFM said in a statement that it is “aligned with the NTSB’s recommendations and the work is already underway, in close partnership with our airframers, to enhance the capability of this important system.” The company, which is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, confirmed it is working on a software update for the 737 Max’s engines and said it is evaluating similar engine models.

The NTSB investigated a December 2023 incident in which a Southwest Airlines plane struck a bird while taking off from New Orleans and had to land quickly after thick smoke filled the cockpit — even making it hard for the pilot to see the instrument panel or his copilot.

In an incident nine months earlier involving another Southwest 737 Max, smoke filled the cabin after a bird strike after takeoff in Havana.

Air from the left engine on a 737 Max flows directly into the cockpit while air from the right engine flows into the passenger cabin.

FAA says it will require airlines to implement a permanent fix when it’s available

While these incidents were both bird strikes, the NTSB said this could happen in certain other circumstances.

The FAA said in a statement that it agrees with the NTSB recommendations and when “the engine manufacturer develops a permanent mitigation, we will require operators to implement it within an appropriate timeframe.”

Pilots can act to limit smoke in the plane by manually cutting off airflow from the engines, but smoke can quickly start to fill the cabin within a few seconds. The engine manufacturer is working on a software update that should do that automatically, but that’s not expected to be ready until sometime in the first quarter of next year.

The NTSB said in its report that several pilots who fly Boeing 737s told investigators they weren’t aware of these incidents despite the efforts Boeing and FAA have made. NTSB said “it is critical to ensure that pilots who fly airplanes equipped with CFM LEAP-1B engines are fully aware of the potential for smoke in the cockpit.”

Boeing and Airbus didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Southwest spokesperson said the airline has been in close contact with the FAA, Boeing and the engine maker since the incidents and notified its pilots after they happened. The spokesperson said the airline continues to address the issue through its training and safety management systems.

Persistent troubles for the 737 Max

The Boeing 737 Max planes have been the focus since they were involved in both incidents, and there has been a history of other problems with that plane.

The Max version of Boeing’s bestselling 737 airplane has been the source of persistent troubles for Boeing after two of the jets crashed. The crashes, one in Indonesia in 2018 and another in Ethiopia in 2019, killed 346 people.

The problem in those crashes stemmed from a sensor providing faulty readings that pushed the nose down, leaving pilots unable to regain control. After the second crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until the company redesigned the system.

Last month, the Justice Department reached a deal to allow Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the Max before the two crashes.

Worries about the plane flared up again after a door plug blew off a Max operated by Alaska Airlines, leading regulators to cap Boeing’s production at 38 jets per month. The NTSB plans to meet next Tuesday to discuss what investigators found about that incident.

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American flag has long flown from a pole on the White House roof, but that’s always been too small for President Donald Trump, who wants everything to be bigger and more beautiful.

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On Wednesday, massive new flagpoles were erected on the North and South Lawns of the White House.

“It’s such a beautiful pole,” Trump said as workers used a crane to install the latest addition to the South Lawn. He returned to the same spot later in the day, saluting as the stars and stripes were hoisted for the first time.

The second pole, on the North Lawn, is close to Pennsylvania Avenue. The two poles are the most notable exterior modification to the White House since Trump returned to the presidency with grand ideas for remaking the building.

He’s already updated the Oval Office, adding gold accents, more portraits and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Workers have begun paving over the grass in the Rose Garden, and there are plans to construct a new ballroom somewhere on the White House grounds. The changes bring the iconic building more in line with Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club in Florida.

The president made time to watch one of the flagpole installations despite the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, plus questions of whether the U.S. would become directly involved.

“I love construction,” said Trump, who made his mark as a New York real estate developer. “I know it better than anybody.”

He talked about how the pole went down nine feet deep for stability, and the rope would be contained inside the cylinder, unlike the one at Mar-a-Lago. When the wind blows, “you hear that rope, banging.”

“This is the real deal,” he said. “This is the best you can get. There’s nothing like this.”

With the forecast calling for temperatures in the 90s this weekend, the coolest place in town may well be the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

What started as a small single day event in downtown Minneapolis 27 years ago has grown into what organizers call one of the largest free civic jazz festivals in the upper Midwest. The family-friendly event has called Mears Park, in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood, home since 2009.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to check out the action.

The main attraction

The festival takes place on Friday and Saturday on two stages at Mears Park.

Friday’s main stage concerts:

4 p.m.: Adi Yeshaya Jazz Orchestra featuring Jennifer Grimm

6 p.m.: Doreen Ketchens’ Jazz New Orleans, which blends classical training with the soul of gospel, blues and jazz

8:30 p.m.: Jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen performing with his trio with guests the Four Freshmen

Saturday’s main stage concerts:

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Noon: Youth performances from Walker West Music Academy and MacPhail Center for Music

2 p.m.: Twin Cities fusion band Society of Chemists, led by composer and performer Stephanie Wieseler

4 p.m.: Patty Peterson presents Jazz Women All Stars featuring Peterson and Ginger Commodore backed by a five-piece band

6 p.m.: Drummer L.A. Buckner and Big Homie playing music influenced by gospel, R&B, hip-hop, African rhythm and jazz

8:30 p.m.: Vocalist Catherine Russell performs with pianist and composer Sean Mason, her collaborator on her albums “Send for Me” and “My Ideal”

The Jazz on 5th Street stage features Selby Avenue Brass Band with Thomasina Petrus (5 p.m.) and Las Guaracheras (7:30 p.m.) on Friday and the Avant Garde (3 p.m.), Drums of Navarone (5 p.m.) and Swinging Motown (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday.

What to know about attending

Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed, while coolers are discouraged. Organizers ask attendees to help keep the festival free by purchasing food and beverages at the festival.

Weapons of any kind, illegal drugs, outside alcohol and vendors that support or oppose any political candidate or cause are not allowed.

Most sets are one hour, with headliners performing from 75 to 90 minutes. Music in the park ends each night at 10 p.m.

Mears Park and all other festival venues are wheelchair accessible, as are Lowertown parking ramps. Volunteers and staff are available for assistance.

In case of severe weather, festivalgoers should take shelter and not wait out the storm under a tent. Once the storm passes, the show will go on.

Beyond Mears Park

The Twin Cities Jazz Festival also boasts 18 venues across the Twin Cities with indoor performances, including pre- and post-festival shows. Cover charges may apply at some venues.

For the full schedule, see twincitiesjazzfestival.com. Highlights include:

Thursday: Tina Schlieske (6:15 p.m.) and the New Standards and Friends (8 p.m.) in Mears Park; Pete Whitman and Mississippi (5 p.m.) in Rice Park; and Jazz Unplugged (6 p.m.) at Urban Growler Brewing Company.

Friday: Maryann and the Money Makers (6:30 p.m.) at the Mall of America Rotunda; Jenny Klukken Quartet (4:30 p.m.), Travis Anderson Trio (7 p.m.) and Abinnet Berhanu’s Ahndenet (8:45 p.m.) at the Twin Cities PBS Stage; Trench Size Trio (6 p.m.) at the White Squirrel; and Dorothy Doring and Jon Weber (5 p.m.), Nicholas David (7 p.m.) and Debbie Briggs Vintage Jazz (9 p.m.) at Big River Pizza.

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Saturday: Victoria Temiz with James Allen (9 a.m.) at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market; Siama’s Musical Instrument Petting Zoo (noon) and ArtStart art activity and stilters (2 p.m.) at the Family Zone on 5th Street; Explosion Big Band (4:30 p.m.), Tom Hunter (5 p.m.), Daphna Levy with Adi Yeshaya (6 p.m.) and Joe Pulice Salutes Buddy Rich (7:30 p.m.) at Crooners Supper Club; and a full afternoon of youth performances from noon to 6 p.m. at Walker West Music Academy Youth Stage at Saint City.

Sunday: Peel Me a Grape: Songs by Dave Frishberg with Connie Evingson and Jon Weber (4 p.m.) at Crooners Supper Club; and Leslie Parker and Collaborators (7:30 p.m.) at the Cedar Cultural Center.

If you can’t make it

Jazz88 will stream the festival live at 88.5 FM and online at jazz88.fm.