A retiring fire chief has a Phyllis Wheatley homecoming
Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner will retire from the fire department at the end of the year to then assume the role of executive director at the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
By Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter
After 30 years of firefighting, Minneapolis Chief Bryan Tyner is retiring his turnout gear to take up the Executive Director position at the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, the historic community pillar in North Minneapolis that recently celebrated its 101st year.
When Tyner was asked to describe how he felt after years of service to the City of Minneapolis, in three words, he paused, then offered just one: “Grateful,” he said. “Grateful for a 30-year career in service. Grateful for the people I’ve worked alongside. Grateful for the chance to come home.”
Tyner was raised in North Minneapolis and began his career with the fire department in 1995. His new job is a full-circle moment for Tyner, who grew up at Phyllis Wheatley.
“I was a Phyllis Wheatley kid,” he recalled, smiling. “I played basketball, football, or whatever was happening that day. It was a safe place to go. We didn’t think about it like that then, but looking back, it mattered.”
Over the course of three decades with the fire department, Tyner rose through the ranks, serving as Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, and Assistant Chief of Administration/Public Information. He earned Executive Fire Officer certification from the U.S. National Fire Academy in 2014. He also served as a Phyllis Wheatley board member.
As a longtime advocate for equity, Tyner led the Minneapolis African American Professional Firefighters Association and, in 2020, became the city’s second Black fire chief, prioritizing diversity and inclusion.
He helped launch a nationally recognized commercial building registration program, expanded access to emergency services through the EMS Pathways Program, and established Safe Station at Fire Station 14 for those facing substance use challenges.
The job of a fire chief, he said, carried a quiet, relentless weight. Leadership is under pressure; every decision is scrutinized, and every second carries consequences.
Retirement brings relief, he said.
“They say it’s a big load that comes off your shoulders,” he said. “I won’t miss the circus, but I’ll miss the clowns.”
His journey to the fire service was far from scripted. Growing up, firefighting wasn’t even on his radar.
In his 20s, two Minneapolis firefighters encouraged him to apply while he did payroll at a bus company. During his career, the station became a second home to him.
“We work 24-hour shifts, two out of every six days. You spend a third of your life with your crew,” he said. “It’s a family. A dysfunctional one sometimes, but a family.”
The bonds run deep, forged not only through laughter but through danger.
“When you go into an incident, their life depends on you, and your life depends on
them,” he said. “You can’t fake that kind of trust.”
For Tyner, retirement from the fire department isn't about stepping away from service. It’s about returning to the place that made him understand the importance of community. His vision for PWCC reaches beyond programming. It’s about restoring a sense of shared responsibility.
“When I grew up, the community was tighter. Everybody raised everybody’s kids,” he said. “We need to get back to that: holding kids accountable but loving them up at the same time.”
As executive director, he plans to expand programs, strengthen partnerships, and create new opportunities for youth, including revitalizing Camp Parsons.
Board chair Scott Morris called Tyner a “home run hire” for the center. “When he steps into this new role, we’re confident he will build upon our…legacy and deliver bold, modern-day impact for the beloved Northside and beyond.”
Tyner starts his position as Phyllis Wheatley’s executive director in January 2026.