Commander Salim Omari is a rising leader within the St. Paul Police Department, and his leadership capabilities have been evident throughout his career—most recently, as a commanding officer. Commander Omari has been instrumental in the progression of his department’s longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. He helped to develop and facilitate racial equity training, utilizing innovative methods and nontraditional resources, effectively delivering the “why” behind his department’s initiatives. Commander Omari consistently expresses himself in a persuasive and engaging manner, striving to meet his peers and members of the community where they are at in any given stage of life or situation. He sets a constructive and professional example of high character, strong moral compass, and professional values for others to follow. 

Commander Omari has worked to develop training curricula and classes for officers in use-of-force practices, tactical proficiency, interpersonal communications, and conflict resolution. For over eight years, he volunteered his time with the Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) Honor Guard as a commander where his duties included recruiting and training officers from around the state of Minnesota. In that role, Commander Omari collaborated with his counterparts to serve police agencies with logistical and ceremonial support during line-of-duty death funerals and high-profile events during the annual Police Memorial Week. His efforts in these assignments demonstrate his understanding that an effective, forward-looking, and comprehensive police training curriculum serves not only the students but also our community well into the future. Commander Omari’s pride, determination, and daily work exemplifies the highest professional standards and ideals of law enforcement and an unrelenting commitment to his department’s three pillars—Trust, Service, and Respect. 

“Becoming a police officer has provided me the opportunity to touch people in a positive light while also being a familiar face for those in the community who look like me and grew up in the inner city.”