In her personal life, Duluth Police Officer Kaylee McMillen is laid back, fun, and quick to laugh. She enjoys hunting, camping, and spending time with her dogs. But when it comes to her job, she takes her role as a police officer very seriously.
McMillen’s commitment to public safety is deeply personal.
“My grandma was killed by a drunk driver,” she said. “So, it’s very rewarding to help make the roads safer for people to travel. Part of my goal as a police officer is to hopefully prevent the same tragedy from happening to other families.”
Upbringing
Born and raised in Cloquet, McMillen is the youngest of four. Her father, Michael McMillen, retired from the USG ceiling tile factory, and her mother, Dori, works as an accountant. From an early age, McMillen was very athletic and loved outdoor activities.
“I played soccer, basketball, softball, and ran track,” she said. “My dad got me into the outdoors too. We love hunting, camping, and fishing.”
Her first job in high school was stocking shelves at Super One Foods, later followed by the same work at PetSmart. But when it came time to commit to a career path, she pivoted a couple of times before she got it right.
Career Choice
At first, McMillen thought she’d be an athletic trainer and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Superior to pursue that program. But she realized in short order that this wasn’t the path for her.
She then considered a career as a radiologic technologist, following in her aunt’s footsteps. Another false start.
Finally, she found her calling. Her brother-in-law was an officer with the Cloquet Police Department, and after going on a couple of ride-alongs with him, something clicked.
“I listened to the stories he told about his job, and liked what I heard,” McMillen said. “And, I knew I didn’t want to have an office job.” She enrolled at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC), where she earned a degree in law enforcement.
While in school, she also gained practical experience by working part-time security at the Sheraton hotel and at the Bethel Work Release Program.
McMillen joined the Duluth Police Department in 2019.
DPD
During her first four years on the job, McMillen handled the Downtown Duluth district. After that, she pivoted out west. She now patrols District 27, which stretches from 6th Avenue East to 26th Avenue East.
“I work 6 am to 6 pm, with four days on and four days off,” she explained. “Then, I rotate from days to nights every other month.”
“We start our days at the Public Safety Building, and begin with roll call. The other officers and I get together and talk about recent events over a cup of coffee.” Then, she heads out on the street to patrol.
McMillen has two partners, and together, they consider their patrol car their “office.” As first responders, they respond to all types of calls: medical situations, theft reports, fraud, domestics, disturbances, trespassing, traffic enforcement, and much more.
She and her colleagues are trained to handle a variety of medical events, such as performing CPR, applying a tourniquet, and administering the life-saving drug, Narcan. “The overdose situation in Duluth ebbs and flows,” she said. “We usually get an influx in overdoses when a batch of drugs is laced with Fentanyl and people don’t know it.”
She is most surprised by the amount of paperwork involved in her role. “There are forms and paperwork involved in just about everything we do,” she said with a chuckle.
As a woman, McMillen feels very comfortable and welcomed in her job and department. “I’ve never run into any issues in that regard,” she noted. “And actually, there is a nationwide campaign called the 30×30 Initiative, where the DPD is committed to get 30% of our officers to be female by the year 2030.”
In fact, female officers are the preferred first responders in some cases. For instance, “Females who are in a DV {domestic violence} situation are often more comfortable speaking to a female officer than a male,” she explained.
In addition to her regular duties, McMillen has a few additional tasks with the DPD. She is a firearms instructor, a field training officer, a DMT (data master transportable – also known as a breath test machine) operator, and she is on the Mobile Field Force Team, which handles crowd control and management.
From 2023 to 2024, she also served on the Board of Directors for Life House.
Memorable Calls
After six years as an officer, McMillen has a couple of very memorable stories under her belt and generously shared them with Destination Duluth.
“I was handling a DWI investigation earlier this year, and the person informed me that his plan was to end his life that night,” she explained. “I was able to put him in touch with some resources where he could get some help.
“By me enforcing a DWI, this prevented him from taking his own life. It’s a good reminder that being proactive can make a difference in more than one way.”
Another story involves a dog. “In one situation a few years ago, a lady had lost her service dog, a German Shepherd. She was in a panic. I was able to help her make the connection that her dog had been found, and was waiting for her at the City of Duluth Animal Shelter. She was so thankful.”
Speaking of dogs, McMillen is passionate about her love of dogs, and hopes to be a K-9 handler someday. These amazing K-9 officers can handle a variety of tasks like locating narcotics, bombs, tracking individuals, and apprehending people.
Personal
McMillen and her fiancée, Mattie Hjelseth, live in Carlton with their two German Shepherds, Ghost and Kyra. In their spare time, the couple enjoy outdoor activities, including hiking, camping in the BWCA, and traveling.
Their first canoe trip as a couple didn’t go very well, however. “The canoe flipped, and I ended up getting stitches in my lip,” McMillen shared with a laugh.
Hjelseth is the Public Information Officer for the Duluth Police Department, and the two met on the job. “On Mattie’s first week of work, she went on a ride-along with me,” McMillen said. “She tells me I looked very serious, and I noticed that she was really pretty.” They also noticed their significant height difference: McMillen is just 5’2”, while Hjelseth is 5’10”.
After a long friendship, things took a romantic turn, and the couple has been together for four years. They are looking forward to getting married this September.
Looking Ahead
In addition to her upcoming nuptials and dreams of being a K-9 handler, McMillen has a few other goals she wants to accomplish.
“We are currently remodeling our house, and plan to sell it at some point in the future. But, other than that, I like to take it day by day. Really, I just want to continue being the best me that I can be, and try to make those who love me proud.”
Officer McMillen encourages the public to consider participating in a ride-along with the Duluth Police Department. These allow you to ride with a police officer while they respond to actual calls throughout the city.
Additionally, the DPD offers a Citizen Police Academy. This 12-week program is a great option for becoming a more well-informed citizen and learning more about what the Duluth Police Department is all about.
More information is available at Citizen Police Academy, or by stopping by the Public Safety Building at 2030 North Arlington Avenue during business hours.
