MINNEAPOLIS — After more than three decades protecting the city’s residents and neighborhoods, Fire Chief Bryan Tyner will retire from the Minneapolis Fire Department on December 31, 2025, capping a 30-year career of public service.
Tyner joined the department in 1995 and rose through the ranks from firefighter to battalion chief, deputy chief, assistant chief, and finally leader of the department. He became Minneapolis’ second Black fire chief when he was appointed on December 4, 2020.
In his five years as chief, Tyner guided the department through a period of immense challenge — overseeing the city’s emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating the aftermath of 2020’s civil unrest, and advancing efforts to build a more diverse, modern, and community-centered department.
“Chief Tyner has given more than 30 years of his life in service to our city, and Minneapolis is better for it,” Mayor Jacob Frey said. “A kid from North Minneapolis who grew up to lead the Minneapolis Fire Department, he’s never stopped giving back to the community that raised him.”
A legacy of progress
Throughout his tenure, Tyner pushed forward several major initiatives:
- Expanded the department’s leadership and workforce diversity to better reflect Minneapolis’ communities.
- Created the EMS Pathways internship program to open doors for young people pursuing careers in emergency response.
- Established the Safe Station program at Fire Station 14, offering judgment-free help for residents seeking recovery support.
- Developed a nationally recognized commercial building inspection and registration program to improve safety and compliance.
- Introduced wellness initiatives, including installing infrared saunas in five fire stations to promote firefighter health.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the residents and community members of Minneapolis and to lead the dedicated members of this department,” Tyner said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
What’s next?
Following his retirement, Tyner will return to his North Minneapolis roots as executive director of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, beginning January 2026. He said he hopes to continue fostering youth leadership and community development in the neighborhood where he grew up.
The city plans to launch a national search for Minneapolis’s next fire chief. An interim chief will be appointed following Tyner’s retirement, and an official recognition ceremony in his honor is expected later this year.
“Climbing through the ranks within the department and ending his career as a chief in the city where he was raised — an achievement we all respect,” said Todd Barnette, Commissioner of the Office of Community Safety. “Longevity. Service. Dedication. Chief Tyner leaves a lasting legacy that will be hard to replace.”
