Recognizing Chief Brian Tholen on His Career As A Law Enforcement Officer and Service to Minnesota

Floor Speech

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Ms. MORRISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Chief Brian Tholen for his distinguished career in law enforcement and his lifelong commitment to serving the people of Minnesota through education, volunteerism, and public safety advocacy.

For over 25 years, Chief Tholen served with dedication and integrity as a police officer for the City of Edina. He then continued his service as Chief of Police for the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department for three and a half years, leading with courage and professionalism.

A graduate of the University of St. Thomas and the 275th class of the FBI National Academy, Chief Tholen exemplified Minnesotan excellence throughout his law enforcement career. His tenure included a decade in the patrol division, where he served as a field training officer, a defensive tactics instructor, and a member of the Southwest Metro SWAT Team Consortium.

In the past 12 years, Chief Tholen has worked to train officers, paramedics, firefighters, and civilians across the metro area in active shooter response protocol. Through this work, he has emphasized the importance of awareness, prevention, and survival, equipping individuals and businesses with life-saving tools and strategies.

Chief Tholen's service-oriented mindset was shaped early in life. Raised in a family-owned plumbing business, he learned the values of hard work and responsibility by going on service calls with his father as a teenager. He carried that ethic into every aspect of his public service career.

Chief Tholen has retired to Shorewood with his wife of 23 years, Lauren. He is an active member of the Excelsior Morning Rotary and enjoys boating, hunting, traveling, and spending time outdoors with Lauren and their Border Collie, Ike.

On behalf of myself and the Minnesotans who have benefited from his decades of leadership and service, I offer my sincere gratitude to Chief Brian Tholen--and I wish him many more good hikes with Lauren and Ike.

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