Minneapolis’ first Black Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced he will not accept a third term and instead will retire.  

According to the Associated Press, the 54-year-old said he would retire in January after 32 years with the department. “I believe that now is the right time to allow for new leadership, new perspective, new focus and new hope to lead the department forward in collaboration with our communities,” Arradondo said. “I am confident that the MPD has the leadership in place to advance this critically important work that lies ahead of us.”  

RELATED: Ex-Minneapolis Cop Mohamed Noor Sentenced to Almost 5 Years in Prison  

He became the city’s first Black police chief after the chief before him was fired for her handling of the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond by former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor. He became a high-profile member of law enforcement nationally for his handling of George Floyd’s murder by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.  

RELATED: Derek Chauvin Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Murder of George Floyd 

Arradondo immediately fired all four officers involved in Floyd’s death and he called Chauvin’s actions intentional. “This was murder – it wasn’t a lack of training,” he said. “The officers knew what was happening – one intentionally caused it, and the others failed to prevent it.” He also testified against Chauvin in court, saying the former officer violated department policy.  

Despite the impact Floyd’s murder had on Minneapolis and the city’s police department, Arradondo said his retirement is not related. 

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 An interim chief will be named in the coming days. 

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