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MPD Chief Listed Among Fortune Magazine's Top 50 World Leaders

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Pope Francis, Melinda Gates, Elon Musk and ... Janee Harteau.

The Minneapolis Chief of Police was just listed as one of the world's 50 greatest leaders by Fortune Magazine.

Fortune put Harteau at number 22 on the list, right between Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and former Vice President Joe Biden. They cited how Harteau has handled the challenges of rising crime and growing tension with the police union.

Fortune also mentioned how the 30-year veteran is the city's first female chief, first openly gay chief and how she's trying to build trust in the community by putting more cops on the beat.

"I've had people come from out of the woodwork, people I haven't heard from for years," Harteau said. "My high school, my old time from Duluth."

Harteau found out about the honor when WCCO radio called her on Thursday. She was in shock.

"I grew up in this police department. I've been here 30 years," she said. "And I love anytime I can go around the country and talk about the great people here and the great things we're doing."

Fortune specifically cited Harteau's handling of the chaos after the deadly shooting of Jamar Clark.

"It wasn't just the 18 days, it was the weeks and months after, and we're still having those conversations," Harteau said.

On Facebook, Mayor Betsy Hodges publicly congratulated Harteau for the honor calling her "a great leader." Harteau says her work is far from over.

"I'm not an expert, but what I tell people is be the type of leader you wish you had," she said.

In 2016, Minneapolis was one of the few major U.S. cities to report a significant decline in homicides.

Harteau, who has been chief since late 2012, has not responded to this honor.

Theo Epstein was listed as number one on the list. He is president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, which just won the World Series.

Fortune Magazine said all of the honorees on the list share three lessons: to offer hope, bring followers physically together, and build bridges.

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