Former Plymouth police chief Mike Goldstein dies following medical incident
Mike Goldstein, the former police chief and public safety director of Plymouth, Minnesota, died following a medical incident earlier this week. He was 58 years old.
Jeff Potts, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, describes Goldstein as "a one-of-a-kind person."
Potts says he became good friends with Goldstein when he served as the police chief of Bloomington, Minnesota.
"He was like a father figure and mentored dozens and dozens of police chiefs," Potts said. "He was the guy everyone wanted to talk to when you first became a police chief because he was so good at it."
Goldstein grew up in Plymouth and devoted his 30-plus-year career to the city. In high school, he joined the first class of police explorers. In 1990, he was hired as a full-time officer. And in 2004, he was promoted to police chief.
To honor Goldstein, the city has lowered its flags to half-mast.
"We are heartbroken with the news of Mike's passing," said current public safety director Erik Fadden. "Mike leaves behind a lasting and unmatched legacy."
Goldstein's legacy also stretches to the mental health side of law enforcement, where he encouraged officers to take care of themselves, their families and their communities.
"Mike was the type of guy that believed that if we can teach people to take care of their mental health, and take care of their physical fitness, they are going to be better police officers," Potts said. "But more important to Mike was that they are better moms and dads, better brothers, sisters. They were just better people."
Goldstein retired just four years ago, and Potts said he was enjoying time with his family while still giving back to law enforcement.
"For me, it was devastating to lose a friend. But just an icon in the law enforcement community who died way too young," he said.
Potts said Goldstein had a hand in many of the wellness programs across the state, that help officers deal with trauma.
