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January 13, 2000
New Arlington police chief has full agendaDuenow ready to take on newduties on Jan. 17By GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer ARLINGTON -- Hiring of another police officer and the consolidation of services between Arlington and neighboring Green Isle top the agenda for Arlington's new police chief Duane Duenow. Although he doesn't officially start his duties until Jan. 17, he has been spending a few days getting settled into his new office, getting organized and planning the agenda for the proposed consolidation of services between Arlington and Green Isle. Duenow, a native of Arlington, was unanimously hired in December to replace Chief Michael Pudwill, who resigned for reasons not released by city officials on Oct. 14. He was hired on a one year probation status by a 3-2 vote in December 1998. Duenow has worked with the Green Isle Police department for 10 years, with the last two being as chief. "I have lived in Arlington all my life and began my involvement with law enforcement in 1984," he said. He was asked by Police Chief Gaylen Wills if he would assist as a part-time officer to help handle security during games and other city functions. It was something he enjoyed doing and the idea of a career in law enforcement sort of evolved at that point. Wills retired in 1998. "I worked as a part-time officer until 1990 with a provisional license and filled in as an officer all over the county, with the exception of Gibbon," he said. "I also started working for Sibley County." He started attending Mankato State University, where he received an associate's degree in Law Enforcement, graduating in 1990 and then took a test for his license. In 1990, he started working for the water department and the police department in Green Isle and became the police chief in Green Isle in 1997. In addition to being police chief, Duenow also lives on a hobby farm where he raises quarter horses with the help of his wife and two children. There is still a need for one more officer in Arlington to provide a four-man rotation between the two departments, which he hopes to hire within the next few months. "There are a lot of changes going on right now in the department," he said. "We are in the process of making a combined department between the two cities, regarding water department and other city services," he said. "All that is in the works and there are several details to work out between the two cities." Taking over as police chief in Green Isle will be a challenge, but there has been a good base established so far, he said. "There has been a lot happening with police departments in this part of the state, but I think we can make it through," he said.
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