Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey taps Lee Sheehy as Interim Community Safety Commissioner
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has tapped a longtime political advisor to serve as the city’s interim community safety commissioner.
Frey’s office announced Lee Sheehy will take over the role on Sept. 2.
The announcement comes after the city’s first-ever community safety commissioner, Cedric Alexander, announced his intention to retire back in July.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve the City of Minneapolis as interim Community Safety Commissioner,” said Sheehy, in a release. “Public Service in a city which has been my home for over 40 years is humbling and motivating.”
Sheehy will focus on leading an analysis of the Office of Community Safety and creating a transition plan for whoever assumes the title next.
He is not expected to seek the role on a permanent basis, according to the statement.
“This is a person with a boatload of experience,” Frey said in an interview on Friday. “He’s leading this transition over these next couple of months, as we get a permanent commissioner of Community Safety.”
As a permanent replacement for Alexander, Frey said he’s seeking a “big-picture thinker” who can “galvanize all of this different work, and make sure it’s well coordinated.” Frey hasn’t named any specific candidates, but a public job posting indicates that the job could pay up to $360,000.
Alexander will leave his post Sept. 1 after just 13 months on the job, despite being appointed to a four-year term.
“Look, I am so grateful for Cedric Alexander stepping up to do this work. He was the right leader at the right time,” Frey said. “He incorporated some things like Operation Endeavor, which did help drive down crime.”
Sheehy earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and his law degree from the University of Minnesota.
His long-term connections with Minnesota’s Democratic Party include stops as chief of staff for Senator Amy Klobuchar and chief deputy to former MN Attorney General Hubert Humphrey. He also served as the chair of former Governor Mark Dayton’s Judicial Selection Committee and co-chair of Dayton’s transition work.
Sheehy’s prior work in the city includes his role as director of the city’s Community Planning and Economic Development Department and serving as interim Deputy Hennepin County Attorney.
Mayor Frey could introduce a nominee for the job on a permanent basis in September, according to the release.
