Melvin Carter Jr. was one of Saint Paul’s first black police officers, swearing his oath in 1976. He is also the husband to Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter and father to Saint Paul mayor Melvin Carter Jr. In this episode we discuss his early life in Rondo, his unlikely path to becoming a police officer, and the current work he is involved in with youth community outreach. Melvin’s biography Diesel Hart is available on Amazon and “all book stores of any repute.” The Minnesota History Theater is currently producing a play based on the book this Spring.

A link to Melvin’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Diesel-Heart-Autobiography-Melvin-Carter-ebook/dp/B07MX13HN1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MOT99MCRAF2D&dchild=1&keywords=diesel+heart+melvin+carter&qid=1617943991&sprefix=diesel+heart%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

A link to The Minnesota History Theater’s play about Melvin: https://www.historytheatre.com/diesel-heart-part-2

If you'd like to ask one of our guests a question that will be aired on a future show, simply call (612) 352-9177 and leave a message. (Yeah, we know, that's a Minneapolis area code, but it still works.) Please know that when you leave a message it may be used, in whole or in part, on a future podcast episode.

Feel free to email the show with questions or comments at saintsmalltalk@mnpodcasting.com.

Visit our web site, if you have not already, at saintsmalltalk.com. Please hit subscribe on whatever podcast source you found us on and rate and review our show. We love to hear feedback.

Saint Small Talk is recorded at the studios of Minnesota Podcasting located on Snelling Avenue in St Paul, MN. Find them online at mnpodcasting.com.