Chief Harteau is an extremely dedicated public safety executive always striving to do more for the advancement of the law enforcement community and building relationships within her community. She is passionate about developing a diverse workforce and helping law enforcement personnel, especially women, to advance their careers.

For 30 years Janeé Harteau served the citizens of Minneapolis. She began her career as a rookie patrol officer and through hard work and dedication advanced to the top position of Police Chief in 2012. In 2016, she received the city council’s unanimous reappointment to a second term based on her excellent leadership of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).

She said, “I’ve always wanted to play an active role in the world... I just hope my presence in this position shows girls that there’s a place for them in this field. The world is changing and someday when you ask a little girl what she wants to be when she grows up, she might say ‘a police officer.’”

When she became Chief, one of her initiatives was creating a Recruitment Division, including a Multi-Cultural Police Community Recruitment Team to encourage young men and women from diverse communities to become police officers. Today, 22% of the department is people of color and 16% are female officers, the highest percentage in the history of the department.

Janeé teaches women to “get to the corner office” through personal empowerment – by defining and achieving their own personal “corner office.” She is a nationally recognized speaker at many different organizations across the United States, encouraging women to excel in their careers.

Harteau is an assistant professor at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, teaching police leadership classes. In addition to her academic responsibilities, she is a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) where she is a mentor, instructor and leader.

Under Janeé's leadership, in 2015 MPD was selected by the Department of Justice to participate in the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. And in 2017, she was named to Fortune Magazine’s ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’ for her inspiration in “acknowledging reality and offering hope, bringing followers physically together, and building bridges with others.”

Select Recognitions & Awards

-2017 Fortune Magazine – The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (#22)

-2017 National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE) 

Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award

-2016 Unanimously reappointed for second term as Chief of Police  

-2015 Team Women Minnesota Leader of the Year Award

-2014 Toastmaster International Communication & Leadership Award

-2014 Duluth, MN, Denfeld High School Hall of Fame Inductee

-2014 Saint Mary’s University Distinguished Alumni Award

-2013 Minnesota Women’s Press Changemaker of the Year 

-2013 Twin Cities Business Journal Diversity in Business Award