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Golden Valley Fire Department makes history
Chief Bethany Brunsell is the city’s first female fire chief and was sworn in April 16.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — For the first time, a woman is leading the Golden Valley Fire Department.
Chief Bethany Brunsell was sworn in this week and her promotion is quite rare. Across the country, women make up only 9% of all firefighters — and even fewer become chiefs.
“I taught kids how to play the violin and recorder and never imagined that years later I would be a firefighter, much less the fire chief,” said Chief Brunsell.
The 47-year-old was a middle school music teacher before making what she calls a second career change, despite never seeing a female firefighter when she was growing up. It helped that she got started in her hometown that had been asking for more on-call firefighters nearly 15 years ago.
“I really didn’t think I’d get hired as a firefighter, I didn’t think I fit the mold of what my own stereotype of what a firefighter was,” said Chief Brunsell. “But then I absolutely fell in love with this job.”
She served with two other departments before landing in Golden Valley, making history even back then as the first ranking woman — an officer — but one, still fighting to belong.
“I’ve been asked if I’m a real firefighter, I’ve been asked if I had to pass the same physical test that the men have to pass,” said Chief Brunsell. “I’ve been asked if I’m allowed to drive the fire truck, I’ve been asked if I’m qualified for the job. It’s been a lot out there in the general public that treat me differently.”
Chief Brunsell says she relies on her teaching skills to educate others about women and firefighting and stays calm rather than let their biases anger her.
“If I can stay calm and be gracious and try to educate them, I think it goes a lot further if I were to let my blood boil and lash out and be angry because that’s not going to help change their view of me or women in the fire service,” said Chief Brunsell.
There are about 20,000 firefighters in Minnesota and very few are women and even fewer are chiefs. In fact, Brunsell’s promotion makes her only the third female fire chief across the state. Nationally, less than 10% of firefighters are women and half of those are chiefs.
But as short-staffed fire departments still need to attract recruits, Chief Brunsell is now leading the charge.
“Seeing someone who looks like you makes it feel a little safer to ask the questions that a lot of women may be nervous about asking a man about,” said Chief Brunsell, who is no doubt, destined to make a difference.
“I’m proud to be one of them; I look forward to the day when there’s more,” said Chief Brunsell.
Right after Chief Brunsell was swore in on Tuesday, the city council proclaimed May 4th as International Firefighters Day — a way to remember a firefighter’s sacrifice and thank those who are still serving.
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Officers say they found the man in the rear of an apartment building suffering from gunshot wounds.
ST PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul Police are investigating after finding a man dead following a shooting early Tuesday morning.
Squads were called to the 1200 block of University Ave. W around 12:30 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and seeing a person lying on the ground. Upon arrival, officers found a man with apparent gunshot wounds lying in the rear of an apartment building, according to a press conference.
St. Paul Fire medics pronounced the man dead on the scene, according to police spokesman Sgt. Mike Ernster.
The SPPD homicide team is investigating the events that led up to the man’s death and trying to identify potential suspects. If you have any information on this incident, call 651-266-5650.
Case updates and the victim’s name will be released on St. Paul Police social media channels.
A ceremony was help honoring the Minnesota Supreme Court’s newest member.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A vast array of judges, lawyers, family and friends gathered at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul to honor the newest member of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Natalie Hudson administered the oath of office to Associate Justice Theodora Gaitas, who was appointed last spring to replace retiring Associate Justice Margaret Chutich.
“A strong judiciary guards against tyranny, against oppression, against injustice. But a strong judiciary also serves the people,” Gaitas told the crowd.
Gaitas, who spent her childhood in Greece, quoted Greek philosopher Aristotle several times in her speech.
“Aristotle wrote law is order and good law is good order,” she said. “Here in Minnesota, we have good order. Good order relies on a strong judiciary.”
Gaitas has spent the past four years as a jurist on the Minnesota Court of Appeals and before that spent two years as a Ramsey County District Court Judge. She took the legal oath previously before joining the Supreme Court in August, so Monday’s event was purely ceremonial.
Gov. Walz appointed Gaitas and Judge Sarah Hennesy last April to fill two vacancies that were expected on the high court in the months ahead. Justice Hennesy joined the Supreme Court on May 13, replacing the retiring Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson.
Walz took a break from the vice-presidential campaign trail Monday afternoon to attend the ceremony and thank Gaitas for accepting the new role.
“One of the questions we asked is what life experiences shaped who you are,” Walz said. “Justice Gaitas’ personal journey, her personal heartaches, as well as her commitment to others shined through in so many ways. Putting others in front of herself, and her work as a public defender doing it with every ounce of her intellect, but with the compassion that needed to be there too, shined through.”
The heartache he referenced was the sudden death in 2023 of Justice Gaitas’s husband R. Christopher Sur. He died while cross-country skiing in Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis with a friend. Their daughter Clea performed with a musical combo at the ceremony and held a copy of the US and Minnesota Constitutions as Gaitas took the oath.
Lt. Gov. Flanagan praised Gaitas for her breadth of experience and connection to those who use the court system.
“Justice Gaitas has excelled at every level of the legal profession and the judiciary. Her extensive experience as an appellate public defender and judge in the district court and court of appeals instilled a deep understanding of how our justice system can and should treat real people.”
