As he hits the three-year mark of his tenure, St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry sat down with the Pioneer Press to discuss the achievements and ongoing challenges faced by the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD). Under Henry's leadership, the city has witnessed a notable decline in violent crimes. The department has implemented a focused effort on solving nonfatal shootings, contributing to the drop in violence. Though progress has been made, Henry remains candid about the complexities of the job and the journey ahead. He mentioned, in an interview obtained by the Pioneer Press, "Of course, it’s not just reducing it for the moment. You have to reduce it again the next year and the next year."
Murder rates in St. Paul have decreased significantly during Henry's time as chief, dropping from 29 in the prior year to 11 homicides as of the same period this year. Despite these improvements, staffing continues to pose a problem, with retirements outpacing new hires. In response, the department has increased the frequency of its police academies to twice a year. Henry, who rose through the ranks of the SPPD starting in 1998, is steadfastly working to address various quality-of-life issues downtown, though progress is reportedly slower than anticipated. According to a social media post by the Saint Paul Police Department, these comprehensive efforts are part of the broader goals set for Henry's six-year term.
In addition to crime reduction, boosting officer morale has been a focal point for Chief Henry, who believes firm morale underpins the department's successes. According to Pioneer Press, the management at SPPD has embraced changes aimed at supporting their officers, as reflected by the federation president's comments on officers feeling "more supported." This emphasis on internal leadership is coupled with community-oriented strategies to combat retaliatory violence and improve public safety.
Collaborating closely with city leadership, Henry has formed a working relationship with newly elected Mayor Kaohly Her, who commended the chief for his "steady hand" during a recent immigration raid, according to Pioneer Press. Their relationship reflects a commitment to fact-based operations and collaboration within St. Paul. "She said, 'I know yesterday (when there was an ICE raid) was a tough day, and you got your phone blown up by all kinds of people with, ‘What’s going on?’ even though your department wasn’t there,'" Henry told the Pioneer Press.
As he looks forward, Chief Henry aims to tackle outdated city ordinances and strengthen the staffing levels within the department. With a focus on enhancing training and development opportunities for current officers, Henry's approach to leadership centers on continuity and adaptability—pushing toward goals that may only fully materialize beyond his tenure as chief.
