Sgt. Paul Schnell, who often has been the public face of the St. Paul Police Department, is among three finalists to replace retiring Hastings Police Chief Mike McMenomy.

Capt. Rick Mathwig, a 22-year veteran of the Roseville Police Department who has been acting chief since October, and Sgt. Wayne Hicks, an 18-year veteran of the Hastings police force, are the other finalists.

Hicks, the only finalist born and raised in Hastings, has a prominent role as school liaison officer. He has been a sergeant for the past nine years and is active in the Minnesota Juvenile Officers Association. He is the brother of Hastings Mayor Paul Hicks.

Mathwig replaced a retiring police chief, Carol Sletner. After working as an officer for one year in South Dakota, he has served 22 years in the Roseville Police Department. Starting as a patrol officer, he rose to captain before taking over leadership of the 49-officer department.

Having grown up in Truman, Minn., and worked in the suburbs, Mathwig said he understands the character of Hastings, which blends a small-city downtown at its heart and suburban-like development on its western edges.

In contrast, Schnell has worked for urban and suburban departments. For the past year, he has been serving his second stint as the St. Paul department's public information officer (for what was supposed to be a three-month assignment), and now may be its best-known member, aside from Police Chief John Harrington.

A native of St. Nazianz, Wis., Schnell began his career in community corrections before becoming a Carver County deputy in 1993. Joining St. Paul in 1999, he was the police department's officer of the year in 2002. He has been an investigator, patrol supervisor and worked in the sex crimes and family violence units. He took a one-year leave in 2005 to work as an administrator for the Metro Transit police.

Schnell said his most recent role has taught him a lot about handling crises and controversy, and he has always held an interest in having his own command.

The city received 29 applicants for the post by the April 23 deadline. Six candidates selected by a consultant were interviewed on May 11, and the three finalists were named by the City Council last Monday.

The council will make its final decision on June 7.

The three will be interviewed again this Monday, followed by a public reception at Hastings City Hall starting at 5:45 p.m. At 6:15, there will be a panel discussion to give the public a chance to learn more about the candidates.

Hastings has 34 officers serving the community of 20,000 people.

McMenomy is retiring on May 30 after a 30-year career with the Hastings Police Department. Starting as a patrol officer, he was named chief in 2000. He received a medal of valor from the Minnesota Police Chiefs Association in 1984 after rescuing an unconscious woman from a burning home.

He will be honored at an open house at City Hall starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, followed by a presentation by the City Council at 7 p.m.

Jim Anderson • 612-673-7199

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