[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 2 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E53]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    A TRIBUTE TO MINNETONKA POLICE CHIEF RICHARD W. SETTER UPON HIS 
                               RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
Minnesotan who represents the absolute best in public service for his 
sterling leadership and remarkable professional career in law 
enforcement.
  You see, Mr. Speaker, my hometown's Director of Public Safety and 
Chief of Police in Minnetonka, MN, Richard W. Setter, has had a 
profound impact on my career.
  After 14 years in his current position, and following four 
distinguished decades in law enforcement, Richard Setter is retiring. 
He leaves an immense legacy.
  Tough. Fair. Integrity. A real leader. Those are just a few of the 
descriptions that come to mind when you think about Dick Setter's 
impressive career.
  He has superbly led the Minnetonka Police Department since April 30, 
1984. In 1994, when he became Director of Public Safety as well as 
Chief of Police, he smoothly and effectively merged the police, fire 
and emergency management departments. With 149 full and part-time 
personnel serving our city of 53,000 people, Chief Setter has helped 
make the Minnetonka Department of Public Safety well known throughout 
Minnesota as a shining lighthouse of an example for other communities.
  Mr. Speaker, when it comes to implementing community-oriented 
policing, organizing neighborhood crime watch groups, forging 
cooperative anti-drug task forces and creating anti-crime programs at 
multiple housing and shopping center sites, Chief Setter's Minnetonka 
Public Safety Department has shown the way. And when it comes to 
steering youth away from at-risk behavior, Dick Setter has been a real 
trend-setter. He knows how important it is to prevent crime by fighting 
its root sources and by putting resources into the front end, which 
saves our communities and the nation expensive resources in the long 
run.
  It has been a long and remarkable run for Chief Setter, who has been 
honored repeatedly for this pioneering, visionary police work. The Boy 
Scouts of America named him recipient of the Silver Beaver and Youth 
Services Awards. Rotary selected him as a prestigious Paul Harris 
Fellow. The NAACP has praised Dick's public service. And our area's 
largest radio station, WCCO, has chosen him for its well-recognized 
``Good Neighbor'' award.
  This record of excellence pervades all that Dick Setter touches. 
Starting with his first position as a patrol officer in rural Owatonna, 
MN, and continuing wherever he has gone--including 23 years as a patrol 
officer, investigator, supervisor and chief of police in nearby St. 
Louis Park--Dick has been successful in making our streets, schools, 
and neighborhoods safer.
  Dick Setter's superior performance has resulted in his repeatedly 
being asked to lead important law enforcement and crime-fighting 
efforts. Most recently, Chief Setter served as President of the 1,500-
member FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. He has 
been a member of that group for 17 years and in a leadership position 
for 12 years, including as a counselor at the FBI Academy in Quantico. 
He has also served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Minnesota Peace 
Officers Standards and Training Board, President and Vice President of 
the Hennepin County Chiefs of Police, a member of the board of the 
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, and in many other leadership 
positions.
  Mr. Speaker, by any measure of merit, Chief Setter is one of 
America's best and brightest law enforcement professionals, and he will 
be sorely missed by the people of Minnetonka.
  I truly value all the wise counsel Chief Setter has provided me 
through the years on so many matters. It is not possible to find words 
adequate enough to properly convey my appreciation for all Dick Setter 
has done for me and for the people of our community and State.
  Mr. Speaker, Dick Setter's influence on my career has been 
substantial. As a direct result of my interaction with him, I have made 
the fight against crime and drugs--a battle which has ravaged our 
cities, infiltrated our schools and dramatically affected our 
neighborhoods and families--my top priority over the past 18 years as a 
State senator in Minnesota and here in Washington.
  Because of Dick Setter and other good friends in law enforcement, I 
have successfully sought leadership positions in government to make a 
real difference on crime and drug policy, such as my present position 
as Co-Chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to wish Dick Setter the very best in all his 
future endeavors, including his professorship at the Minnesota State 
University in Mankato--where he has been inspiring future law 
enforcement officers for two decades. I can't imagine a better role 
model.
  Thanks again, Dick, for all you have done for the people of 
Minnetonka and for our State and Nation. God bless you and your 
wonderful wife Patty. You have made our community immeasurably stronger 
and safer, and we're deeply grateful!

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