Hopkins (Minnesota) Fire Department Assistant Chief and APCO member James “Jimmy” Scanlon died November 4 after going into cardiac arrest the day before. He was 38.
Scanlon responded to a fire call for Hopkins Fire Department on the evening of November 2. Scanlon served the Hopkins Fire Department as a firefighter from 2008 to the present, and he has served as assistant chief since 2019.
“Jimmy was known for his superior knowledge of IT, commitment to the city and willingness to help out however he could. He will be deeply missed,” said Hopkins Fire Department Chief Dale Specken. “Our condolences go out to Chief Scanlon’s family.”
He worked for the Hopkins Police Department 2004-2017 as a public safety telecommunicator, a reserve officer and public safety officer. Scanlon left the department in 2016 for professional growth and an opportunity with the Bloomington Police Department.
Scanlon grew up in Hopkins, graduated from Hopkins High School in 2003, and he grew up working for the city. His father Bob Scanlon worked for Hopkins in IT from 2001 to 2003.
Scanlon began his career with the city at 16, when he was hired as a seasonal employee helping his father with a variety of IT projects. Scanlon was a third-generation fire fighter, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
Scanlon is survived by his partner Kat Willette; children, Arabella (17), Killian (7), and twins, Laina and Liam (4); parents, Bob (Kristy) Scanlon and Terri (Chris) Scanlon; grandparents, Larry & Linda Bergquist; uncle, Ken Scanlon.
A visitation for Scanlon will be held 10-11 a.m. November 9, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main St., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m., Washburn-McReavy.com.
