Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon Addresses Police Chief Virgil Green’s Resignation

Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon Addresses Police Chief Virgil Green’s Resignation

GOLDEN VALLEY, MN — Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon is speaking publicly following the resignation of Police Chief Virgil Green, who officially stepped down on Friday, October 3, 2025, after spending several months on administrative leave amid two independent investigations.

Chief Green’s resignation marks the end of a turbulent chapter for the Golden Valley Police Department, which has faced leadership transitions and staffing challenges in recent years. The investigations—commissioned by the city and conducted by independent third-party firms—examined allegations that Green interfered with an internal investigation and improperly released video footage from an active investigation to local media outlets. Both reviews have now been completed, with findings available as public records under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

In an interview with CCX News on Monday, October 6, Mayor Harmon described the situation as deeply emotional for the city and its leadership.

“All of this has just been really difficult, and you know, there’s two sides, right? There’s two sides,” Harmon said. “I was there when we brought Chief Green in, and so, just all of it is just—it’s hard.”

Green, hired in 2022, made history as Golden Valley’s first Black police chief. His appointment came during a period of significant departmental strain, as the city worked to rebuild staffing levels and community trust following years of turnover.

The Golden Valley City Council held a closed session the evening before Green’s resignation to discuss “threatened litigation against the city” related to the personnel matter. Mayor Harmon declined to share details from that session but emphasized the city’s focus on stability and forward momentum.

“What’s done is done, and we have to move forward,” Harmon said, reaffirming her commitment to appointing an interim police chief and proposing regular town hall meetings to strengthen community dialogue.

While Green’s departure has prompted mixed emotions across the community, Harmon expressed concern about maintaining continuity within the police department to prevent further staff attrition. She previously cautioned that prolonged leadership uncertainty could disrupt recent progress in officer recruitment and morale.

Assistant Chiefs Alice White and Rudy Perez—who have co-led the department during Green’s leave—will continue to oversee operations as the city begins its search for an interim chief.

In a written statement, Green described the past four months as “extremely stressful” and said the ordeal had taken a toll on his physical and mental health.

City Manager Noah Schuchman issued a statement thanking Green “for all he did for the City of Golden Valley, its police force, and the community,” and said more information about the interim appointment process will be released soon.

Mayor Harmon reiterated her intent to guide the city through this transition with transparency and empathy, noting that while the moment is difficult, “Golden Valley will move forward together.”

MinneapoliMedia