St. Paul Assistant Chief Kathy Wuorinen named interim police chief

St. Paul Assistant Police Chief Kathy Wuorinen was named interim chief Thursday, replacing Chief Thomas Smith when he retires in May.

Wuorinen is assistant chief of support services and administration.

The city received six applications for the chief job in February and had planned to hold candidate forums in late March. But the application process was reopened last month when one of the applicants was disqualified and another withdrew from consideration.

The new deadline for applications is midnight Friday, and Coleman could interview finalists in June.

Wuorinen, who grew up on Rice Street in St. Paul, first served as a deputy with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department in 1985. She joined St. Paul police in 1988 and begins her interim post on May 10.

Wuorinen qualifies to run for chief, but said in an interview Thursday that although she had considered the post at one point, she had long ago decided that she wouldn't apply as chief.

"I'm happy with my career here, and I can serve the community and department best in my capacity as assistant chief," Wuorinen said, "but I'm excited about my new role."

Wuorinen's time as interim chief will be short, and she said she didn't expect any major changes or developments in the next few months. She will oversee ongoing projects, including implementation of body cameras, which will likely occur under the new chief and not Wuorinen.

Wuorinen's career at the department also includes oversight of the crime lab, now called the forensic services unit, in 2012 when it came under fire in several Dakota County drug cases for poor training and improper procedures. The courtroom scrutiny put a halt to drug testing at the crime lab and prompted a major overhaul of its operations and staffing.

Wuorinen lives in Woodbury. Her husband, Sgt. John Wuorinen, is assigned to the department's Internal Affairs Unit.

Assistant Chief Todd Axtell, Senior Cmdr. Tina McNamara and Minneapolis police Lt. Eddie Frizell all have applied for the chief's job.

Other staff changes: Senior Cmdr. Paul Iovino will become acting assistant chief, support services; Senior Cmdr. Matt Toupal becomes interim assistant chief, major crimes; Cmdr. John Lozoya becomes acting senior commander, Eastern District; Sgt. Sheila Larson becomes acting commander, Eastern District; Cmdr. Axel Henry was named executive officer to the chief, and Cmdr. Mary Nash becomes acting senior commander, Western District.

Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708

Twitter: @ChaoStrib