Officer Madigan retiring after 27 years

This Friday, June 28, will be the final day that New Prague Police Officer John Madigan will be on duty as he is retiring after a total of 27 years in law enforcement. For 21 years of that career, Officer Madigan has served in New Prague, with 15 years as the School Resource Officer.

Officer Madigan began his career after receiving a bachelor’s of science degree from Mankato State University in July 1990. In January 1992 he and his wife Kristine moved to Colorado Springs, CO, where he attended the Police Department Training Academy and received his peace officer standard and training certificate. He worked for the Colorado Springs Police Department until 1996.

"We decided to move back to Minnesota," said Madigan, adding that both their families were still in the state. Of working in two different states he said, "The job is kind of the same everywhere." He did note the differences between the size of departments depending on the size of a community. In Colorado Springs there were 500 officers, Mankato had 40 and when he started in New Prague there were seven officers, although three have been added over time for a department of 10 officers.

"When I look back, it’s different from where I started as an architect major, but I didn’t see myself sitting in an office," said Madigan. He explained that he talked to police officers and was on some ride-alongs, which helped him decide to go into law enforcement.

In April 1996 he began serving with the Mankato Police Department. Madigan noted that Kristine was working in the Twin Cities Metro area and they decided to move to New Prague as it between the Twin Cities and Mankato. In January 1998 he applied and was hired to serve the citizens of New Prague with the New Prague Police Department.

Officer Madigan said that a big change for police work is......

To see more on this story pick up the June 27, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.