John Harrington was appointed by Governor Tim Walz in January 2019 to serve as the Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety for Minnesota. As commissioner, Harrington oversees a statewide department that provides police and fire services and includes the Minnesota Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in addition to Department of Vehicle Services.

Prior to becoming the Commissioner of Public Safety, Harrington served as the Chief of the Metro Transit Police 2012-2019, helping to create the Homeless Action team and increasing diversity from 5-50%. Commissioner Harrington is a former member of the Minnesota Senate who represented District 67, which includes the East area of Saint Paul.

Harrington was the 39th Police Chief for the city of St. Paul Police Department serving from 2004-2010 where he began his police career in 1977. As St. Paul Police Chief, Harrington tackled some of the city's most difficult problems, resulting in the development of programs that greatly reduced domestic violence and gang involvement. He also increased the diversity of the police department by 40 percent and worked with the private sector to increase police resources helping to found The Police Foundation and Shop with Cops.

Harrington attended De LaSalle High School in Chicago, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire majoring in Religion with a minor in Chinese; received his Master of Arts in Education at the College of St. Thomas and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 201st session and PERF Executive Management Program. In addition to his other duties, John has been on the faculty at St. Mary, St. Thomas and Metropolitan State University.