Maple Grove ain’t the Wild West. There are no gun-totin’ outlaws running the streets. A story about the new chief in town doesn’t carry as much panache as an old Western, but Eric Werner prefers it that way. As long as the community feels safe, Werner is doing his job. With his background and work so far, Maple Grove residents have little to worry about.
Werner comes to Maple Grove after serving as the chief of police in Rosemount for nearly two years. He started his career as an officer in the Village of Addison, Ill.—just outside Chicago—where gang activity was becoming a problem and he had to learn how to work in a diverse community. It served him well and helped him become the officer he is today.
“We had an innovative chief,” Werner says of his time in Addison. “I saw how he impacted frontline officers by empowering them to lead in their assigned areas.” That attitude has stuck with Werner to this day. “Part of my philosophy now is to give direction to officers, but let them lead in their areas. They know the people and businesses in the community and are in touch with what’s going on.”
It took years, including eight years as a captain in Burnsville, before Werner rose to the rank of chief in Rosemount. However, it was obvious from a young age that Werner wanted to be a cop. Growing up, he had friends whose parents were officers, and the idea of helping people and solving crimes intrigued him from the time he was in elementary school.
“When you are young, you see the positives,” Werner says. “The hardest thing in this profession is [that] police officers deal with the dark side of society.”
In communities like Rosemount and Maple Grove, it’s rare that officers deal with the very worst offenders, but the positon includes plenty of work with criminals. That can be a challenge.
About a year into his stint as chief in Rosemount, Werner was pulled into an investigation dealing with darkness. The high-profile murder of University of Minnesota student Anarae Schunk shocked not only Rosemount, but the entire Twin Cities area. Werner was right in the middle of the investigation along with Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.
“Those are stressful cases for law enforcement, the community and the victim’s family,” Backstrom says. “Werner is compassionate with the victims and he is tenacious in his commitment to finding answers and solving the case.”
When tragedy occurs, it becomes a jarring reminder of the dangers of police work. It’s something Werner is aware of, but he believes a well-trained force that’s highly educated can reduce the dangers and keep themselves and the community safe.
It’s this belief that drives Werner in his everyday work. Those he has worked with attest to the care and energy he puts into the community.
Shira Rabinowicz is a family resource center coordinator working for 360 Communities in Rosemount. She primarily works with families in Rosemount and Apple Valley, and she works closely with the Rosemount police. “The police pop in and say ‘hi’ and build relationships with the community here,” Rabinowicz says.
During his time in Rosemount, Werner served as a spokesman for 360 Communities and brought innovation to how the force handled domestic violence. He created a team of officers to follow up with victims in abuse cases so they could get connected with the help they needed. In the past, there had only been one person on the police force working with domestic abuse victims.
“His leadership skills are amazing, and he has a heart of gold,” Rabinowicz says. “He is one of those people who wants to do things just to help the community.”
Werner has built the skills to excel in his role in Maple Grove. The transition has been made easier by the welcome of community members. One of his first experiences was Maple Grove Days, which he says was a great way to get acquainted with the people and places in the Maple Grove area.
“I try to get out of the office for a little time every day,” Werner says. “As chief, it’s important to take care of the responsibilities of the role, but we’re still cops. I have to be out and connected not only to other officers but also the community.”
Maple Grove has a history of stellar chiefs at the head of the department. Here’s a look back at those who have held the post.
- Bob Burlingame 2/1/62–4/30/92, retired
- Sherman Otto 6/1/92–5/31/01, retired
- Mona Dohman 6/1/01–8/31/11, retired (Currently Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.)
- David Jess 10/18/11–5/30/14, retired
Eric Werner’s goal is to have a positive impact on the Maple Grove community. Chief Werner and his wife Selina are excited to move to Maple Grove—they’ve chosen a neighborhood and are getting ready to build a new home there. Werner says they are excited to explore Maple Grove and get more involved with local activities, and they love that 3 Squares, Granite City Brewery and Buca di Beppo are close by for dining out.
