Retirement

I will be retiring at the end of year. Or perhaps I should say I’m retiring again at the end of the year. I joked with our staff that if I was not careful, this blog could sound like a moment from an Oscars’ ceremony when the recipient goes on and on thanking people as the orchestra continues to play louder and louder to get the person to leave the stage, and everyone is uncomfortable. With that in mind, I have condensed the list and have three very important thank-you’s and a favorite memory of my time here. 

The membership. You have been wonderful to work with. One of my favorite parts of the position was our outreach, usually in the form of workshops. And the best part of the workshop were the questions. Many of them were not asked in front of the class but after class around the podium or in the hallway, or on the breaks or at lunch. Our conversations were always enlightening, and I came away with more information and understanding than I ever provided you. Thank you.

The League and Insurance Trust staff. From day one they welcomed me, and I quickly found that brainstorming the answer to an inquiry would produce our best response. As I talked with League organizations from other states, I realized how smart it was for us to have League staff and Insurance Trust staff together in the same building. It fosters communication and collaboration. Many of the questions or inquiries I received were related to personnel issues, and I think there was a path in the carpet between my cubicle and the offices of our HR staff as I sought their input. When asked what it’s been like to work at the League, my response is: “I always held the organization in high esteem before I worked there. Now I hold it even higher.” Thank you.

Maggie. Maggie Biever (who works in Communications at the League) has a tendency to stay out of the spotlight, but I want to publicly thank her for her work on this blog. It is Maggie who has made the blog what it is, as she takes my copy and photos and gives it the “Maggie touch.” She has been a joy to work with and exudes a positive energy even in her emails. And by the way, I think together we are ending up with around 210 blog posts. Thank you, Maggie.

Favorite League Story. The night before my first day of work, I was invited to come to the office to attend a presentation by college graduate students on distracted driving. That evening I parked my car in the lot and began to walk toward the building. I saw the League’s executive director, Jim Miller, coming quickly toward me. I had never met Jim, but I had seen his picture in League publications. He extended his hand and gave me a warm handshake, called me by name, and told me how excited everyone was that I was going to be working with them as we walked into the building together. After the presentation I drove home and told my family, “I think I’m going to like it there” — and I had not even worked my first day. 

Rob Boe

It has been a wonderful 9 1/2 years at the League and almost 50 in the Minnesota public safety community. A veteran public safety official who had worked statewide told me early on: “When you have seen one department, you have seen one department.” He was right — they are all different. I learned the phrase is a compliment, as Minnesota’s departments adapt their operations to their community needs, call loads, and resources. It has been fascinating to end my career having the opportunity to work in different areas of the state.

[Here is where the orchestra begins to play the music louder]

As I leave the League, I will be changing gears and looking forward to more time with our family, which now includes two grandchildren. In the immediate future we have an extended weekend of cross-country skiing booked on the Gunflint Trail and plans for lots of winter cabin time with books and campfires. Once we get through the pandemic, we look forward to traveling. Thanks again to all — it’s been a great ride.

Up next: They tell me the blog will continue: stay tuned!

Stay safe,
Rob

Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Children Exposed to Violence

A guest Post by LMCIT Public Safety Specialist Tracy Stille

Police officers are frequently the first responders to situations that pose threats to the safety and well-being of children. Whether it’s a call about domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, or homicide, the police are in an important position to identify and initiate the process of recovery for children and families traumatized by violence. 

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Yale Child Study Center have compiled resources and tools necessary to equip and train law enforcement agencies across the nation to identify and respond to these violent events, including death notifications. 

Police officers need to understand and recognize the acute signs of traumatic distress often associated with events that require intervention, as well learn the various law enforcement strategies that allow children and families to heal, recover, and re-establish a sense of security and stability. 

When children are not quickly identified and supported in recovery following exposure to violence, they are at greater risk for a number of factors including school failure, mental health and substance abuse disorders, involvement with the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and perpetration of community violence —  along with a number of other risk factors.

A Toolkit for Law Enforcement

The IACP and Yale have launched a toolkit (linked below) for law enforcement leaders and frontline officers that provides practical tools and resources to assist law enforcement agencies in building or enhancing effective operational responses to children exposed to violence. The toolkit includes an organizational self-assessment and action-planning tool, along with recommended operational protocols and tools to integrate into an agency’s existing practices and approaches. 

Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Children Exposed to Violence: A Toolkit for Law Enforcement

Free Online Training

The New Haven Connecticut Department of Police Service has been instrumental in the development of some online training in this area. They lent their professional expertise to ensuring that case scenarios were realistic and consistent with law enforcement practices, and that they represent a range of possible differences in police attitudes and level of engagement. 

The IACP, in partnership with the Childhood Violent Trauma Center at the Yale Child Study Center, and the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, has launched this online training series to help prepare frontline officers to identify and respond to children exposed to violence. 

The online training series will enable officers to identify and interact with children of all ages who have been exposed to violent and potentially traumatic events using both developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed approaches. 

This five-module interactive course combines a number of learning styles and incorporates scenarios for participants to test new knowledge and practice new skills. This course has been certified by IADLEST as part of the National Certification Program for continuing education credits in more than 35 states and has been submitted to the MN Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for consideration of approval.

I recently completed this training, and the course is offered at no cost to law enforcement and their multidisciplinary partners. It may also be beneficial for mental health practitioners and co-responders working with law enforcement.

Register here: http://elearning-courses.net/iacp/html/index.cfm

You may contact me via email at tstille@lmc.org with any questions or give me a phone call at (651) 215-4051.

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

Up next: Rob's Retirement

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -
Tracy

Winter Driving Tips

A guest post by Bob Swenson, Director of Advance Driving Skills at the Minnesota Highway Safety and Research Center

Greetings from the desk of a retired police officer of 28 years. I also taught for the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center for nine years and am currently the Director of Advance Driving Skills at the Minnesota Highway Safety and Research Center. 

I’d like to share some all-year — and especially winter — driving tips.

First lesson: no one is exempt from the laws of physics. 

I could tell you stories of personal experience and what I’ve witnessed. If you’ve been in a squad car for a couple winters, you’ve seen what a lack of attention — or failing to slow down for the conditions — can lead to. 

Guest author Bob Swenson

In late October we saw 7 inches of snow at Hazel Lake (north of Staples), an early taste of winter. Already I have driven through fresh slushy snow to get to the well-maintained county road. I did some “research” with the traction control, electronic stability control, and anti-lock braking system. I was reacquainted with winter driving conditions.

Things to remember in your 360-degree environment:

1. Drive smart — never ignore road and weather conditions. Your number one priority is to get from point A to point B without crashing or leaving the roadway. Speed kills.
2. Keep your vision up and scan out every 12-15 seconds to spot changing conditions. Traffic, road, and weather conditions can change quickly. Reduced lighting changes your perspective. Always be looking for a safe escape path. Play the “what if” game. 
3. Do not forget to turn your head. Scan intersections early and often.
4. Leave room around you to maneuver. At least 3 seconds of following distance is needed on a good day. More following distance is needed for poor weather, heavier traffic, and low light.
5. Friction is finite. Keep friction, keep control. Slow down early. Speed up slowly.
6. Modern technology is an assistant, not to be relied on to make up for you being in a hurry.
7. Practice your driving on compromised friction. Use a parking lot or snowy road.  Feel what electronic stability control can do for you. Use your anti-lock braking system on both good and reduced friction. Try the traction control. You do not want to be surprised by how your vehicle reacts. 
8. If you get stuck, you may be able to get moving again by turning off the traction control and rocking the vehicle out.
9. Cut out distractions. That split second when you take your eyes and/or mind off your driving can be deadly. Driving is a priority. Slowing down is a must. Use the radio instead of the computer or text.
10. Tires: make sure you have appropriate tires with good tread. Part of the friction equation includes decent tires.

Second lesson learned: No one is exempt from the laws of physics. 

Up next: A resource for traumatized children

Be safe and serve well,
Bob

Election Security: Things to Remember

A guest post by Research Attorney Jacob Glass

The 2020 U.S. elections has resulted in new challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and national unrest. In the United States, the nation’s 3,069 counties traditionally administer and fund elections at the local level, including overseeing polling places and coordinating poll workers for federal, state, and local elections. 

County election officials work diligently with federal, state, and other local election officials to ensure the safety and security of our voting systems and polling locations. County election officials strive to administer elections in a way that is accurate, safe, secure, and accessible for all voters.

Counties, along with municipal clerks, hire and train poll workers to ensure they are well equipped to assist voters and protect against voter fraud or other security risks. Additionally, election officials are prepared for a wide range of “hard security” challenges at polling locations — including mitigating natural disasters, following protocols for an active shooter, civil demonstrations, fire, severe weather, and other emergencies. 

Along with the guidance below, law enforcement, city clerks, and county auditors should take the time now to plan and be on the same page for any incident that might occur at a polling place. Make sure officers working on election day have a clear understanding of where polling places are in the community, since these locations can change from one election to the next. 

The following information may be helpful to discuss in advance as well:

First Amendment issues related to elections, signs, etc.

• Signs cannot be displayed within 100 feet of the polling place, unless they are being displayed on private property.
• In the polling place, individuals cannot display campaign T-shirts, buttons, or literature which relate to specific candidates, official political parties, or questions on the ballot that day. These items will need to be either covered up or removed while in the polling place.

First Amendment audits/recording in polling places (non-media)

There is no law that strictly prohibits taking photos or videos in the polling place. However, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State discourages this activity for the following reasons:

• Voters have a right to privacy, both as to how an individual has voted as well as whether or not an individual has voted. Either or both of these could be compromised by pictures or video. In addition, other voters' objections to being photographed could lead to disruptions within the polling place.
• When voter turnout is high there may be lines and polling places may be crowded. Voters have a right to take the time they need to vote but should not take extra time to take pictures.
• Minnesota Statutes 204C.17 and Minnesota Statutes 204C.18 prohibit voters from showing their marked ballot to others. Taking photographs or video of your own marked ballot could violate this prohibition.

Police in polling places

• Peace officers shouldn’t be in polling places unless requested. They are not allowed within 50 feet of a polling place except to vote or respond to request for aid.

Campaigning restrictions

• No one can campaign inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the building. If the polling place is on public property, no one can campaign anywhere on the property, even beyond 100 feet. However, the prohibition of signs and campaign materials within 100 feet does not apply to adjacent private property. For additional information, please reference Minn. Stat. Sec. 211B.11 “Election Day Prohibitions” & Minn. Stat. Sec. 204C.06 “Conduct in and near polling places.”
• No one can use undue influence to compel an individual to vote for or against a candidate or ballot question. For more information on what constitutes undue influence, see Minn. Stat. Sec. 211B.07.

Masks 

• Gov. Tim Walz's Executive Order 20-81 requires that masks be worn in public places, including polling places. The Secretary of State's Office has provided counties with posters informing voters of this requirement. 
• No voter will be denied the right to vote for failure to wear a mask. If a voter walks in without a mask, please offer them one. If despite the offer they don’t take it, ask them to please wear a mask. If they still refuse to wear a mask, offer an alternative solution such as voting in the hallway or doing curbside voting in a vehicle. If they are still persistent on not wearing a mask or conducting their vote in an alternative way, you must give them a ballot.

Voters lingering in polling place

• People may not gather or linger in the polling place or within 100 feet of the building in which the polling place is located. One exception is an individual conducting an exit poll. Exit polls cannot be conducted within the polling place but may be conducted anywhere outside of the room being used as the polling place. An individual conducting an exit poll may only approach voters as they leave the polling place after having voted to ask them to take an anonymous written questionnaire.

Security risks

It is important that poll workers be aware of and train for any possible security risks at their polling locations including the following precautions and prevention measures:

• Use of physical security checklists prior to Election Day.
• How to handle emergencies and call 911 when safe to do so.
• What to do if you receive or observe a threat and when to evacuate a polling location.
• Emergency evacuation routes and exits at a polling location. 
• Active shooter training (Run. Hide. Fight or similar training). 
• When to notify law enforcement and what to expect when law enforcement arrives.
• Recognizing the warning signs of escalating behavior and reporting violence indicators.
• Emergency assembly areas.
• Familiarization with the election emergency plan. 

Elections plan

• County election officials must develop a county elections emergency plan to be made available for use in all state, county, municipal, and school district elections held in that county. Cities, towns and school districts may create a local elections emergency plan that meets the requirements of the county elections emergency plan. For additional information, please reference Minn. Stat. sec. 204B.181.

Permit to carry regulations

• Minnesota has no statutes that prohibit firearms in a polling location unless the polling location is specifically described in statute as being an area or building (courthouse complexes, school zones, etc.) that prohibits the carrying of a firearm with a valid permit under MN statute 624.714.
• However, if the polling place is in a private building that has banned guns on their property, that prohibition continues even on Election Day, as the polling place (church, private school, union hall, or other) is still the landlord and has a right to continue to ban guns.

Up next: Winter driving

Stay safe,
Jacob

Reducing the Stigma – World Mental Health Day

A guest post by Public Safety Program Coordinator Lora Setter 

World Mental Health Day is Saturday, October 10. It’s a day set aside for people across the world to focus on mental health awareness, education, and ending the stigma.

Recently, I read a newspaper article where an Iraqi war veteran talked openly about his struggles with mental health. He shared how he was making plans to end his life when a friend called and invited him out for pie. That invitation ultimately saved his life. He now trains soldiers about mental health concerns and — though he believes the stigma of suffering from a mental illness is changing — he readily admits that stigma still exists. 

Just like the military, public safety organizations are working to bring more awareness to mental health, making it “OK to not be OK.” Even though efforts have been made to destigmatize post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions, change is slow. 

Needing to admit to a mental illness can still be viewed by some as shameful and weak. These feelings may cause those that suffer not to get the help they need, which is tragic because PTSD and other mental health conditions are treatable!

Mental health resources available to all public safety personnel are confidential, no-cost, 24-hour hotlines. Hotlines provide immediate, stigma-free help when people may need it most. For more public safety mental health resources, visit www.lmc.org/ptsd-mental-health-toolkit/ — or see below for some hotline numbers specific to public safety.

24-Hour Hotlines
This list of resources was compiled in part with information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Bulletproof 
Bulletproof offers anonymous and confidential access to health and wellness initiatives, support, information, and resources. Their confidential support line can be reached at (800) 273-8255.

MnFIRE 
The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) is dedicated to providing Minnesota’s firefighters with the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health. Their peer support hotline is (888) 784-6634.

Copline 
Copline offers trained peer support and referrals for continued assistance. Their confidential support line is 800-COPLINE (800-267-5463).

NVFC-Fire-EMS-Rescue 
The confidential Fire/EMS Helpline was created for first responders by members of the fire service. This program is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of firefighters, EMTs, rescue personnel, and their families. Reach them at (888) 731-FIRE (3473).

Safe Call Now 
Safe Call Now is a confidential crisis referral service for public safety and emergency services personnel. Call them at (206) 459-3020.

Let’s all continue to work to end the stigma about PTSD and other mental health conditions in public safety. Remember: reaching out for help by calling a hotline number or talking to someone is not a sign of weakness — it is a sign of strength. 

Up next: Election security tips and suggestions

Stay safe and stay well,
Lora 

FirstNet Will Become NeoGov on January 1, 2021

A guest blog by Loss Control Consultant Troy Walsh

FirstNet Learning — the web-based safety training provided by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) — will become NeoGov on Jan. 1, 2021. 

These changes apply to existing FirstNet users and individuals currently accessing training courses through the FirstNet Learning system, who are not part of a Regional Safety Group (RSG). Is your city already part of an RSG? This may be something to look into, because as a city police, ambulance, or fire department, you already have free access to this training for your staff. 

Current RSG members: you have already been migrated over to the new NeoGov learning platform, but please read on since there are some significant changes to be aware of with the programs we are offering.

What’s behind the change?

NeoGov purchased FirstNet back in 2017 and, with the combination of these companies, we are able to have some of the best features from both.

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust is currently at the end of the three-year contract we had established with FirstNet and have renewed the contract with NeoGov for another three years. For RSG users, you have undoubtedly seen several of the new and improved features the new platform can provide if you choose to explore them. 

For those individuals who are new users or will be converting over to NeoGov on January 1, there will be a series of webinars we strongly encourage you to attend that will help speed you through your implementation process. More to come on this as we proceed closer to the transition date. 

What do these changes mean for you?

The most noticeable change will be an increase in per-user cost. Under the terms of our expiring contract, the current cost per user/seat was a standard $20 with no minimum fee for non-RSG members. With that, we were able to offer limited functionality and 61 online training courses. The majority of these were focused on OSHA and general safety courses. 

Under the terms of the new contract, the per user/seat fee will be increasing to $29 for non-RSG members but will still be free to any RSG member. There is also a new minimum fee of $261 per non-RSG city, and the fee for more than 10 employees will become $29 per user. 

So what are you getting with this price increase? Besides a much more robust training and tracking platform than was previously offered, we have included an additional 150+ online training courses (instead of the 61 courses presently offered). Several new fleet training programs will be available to everyone, as well as a large offering of additional safety and health programs. 

What we are really excited about is a new series of what is commonly referred to as “human capitol courses.” These courses cover a wide range of supervisory training — including providing effective feedback and managing change, and courses intended for a wider audience such as focusing on the customer and listening skills. This is in response to general inquires in the past asking for such programs.

Consider your leadership team: could these human capitol courses help with developing their leadership skills? Training like this is important in developing staff to help the administrative team! 

There will be additional announcements coming throughout the rest of the year and updated information on our website regarding these changes — including both upcoming training webinars and the complete course catalog listing. Please stay tuned for more information!

We do understand that an increase like this always needs to be part of any budget planning process. For that reason, we felt the need to give all existing FirstNet users a heads-up of what changes are coming your way!

Up next: Mental health resources

Stay safe,
Troy

Fire Marshals Grant Program for Turnout Gear Washer/Dryers

A guest blog by Loss Control Consultant Troy Walsh

Firefighters perform valuable services to their community, and they are encouraged to maintain good hygiene to minimize the carcinogens in the workplace. This includes their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has another Turnout Gear Washer/Dryer Grant Program for 2020-2021 to help support these efforts. 

With the success of the FY20 program, an additional $600,000 has been approved for distribution. Department awards will be granted in amounts up to $10,000 for gear washer/extractors and up to $8,000 for gear dryers.

For full details on the program and how to apply, please see the State Fire Marshal’s website — or  contact Nolan Pasell at nolan.pasell@state.mn.us or by phone at (651) 201-7218.

Applications for the 2021 program year are due at 4 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2020.

Be sure to consider this great opportunity for your fire department’s PPE maintenance and decontamination!

Up next: Online Safety Training

Stay safe,
Troy

Suicide Prevention Month: “It’s OK to not be OK”

A guest blog by Lora Setter, LMCIT Public Safety Program Coordinator

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. This week — September 6-12 — is National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide is a major public health challenge and, sadly, a disease that greatly impacts public safety.

A striking fact regarding suicide and public safety personnel is that fire and police professionals are more at risk from dying of suicide than from being killed in the line of duty.

Recently, I’ve heard two mental health professionals use the phrase, “It’s OK to not be OK” about how to normalize conversations around mental illness in public safety. One of the most important ideas in making it “OK to not to be OK” is for leaders to talk openly about their own mental health struggles.

To be a leader doesn’t necessarily mean having a formal title of leadership. Being a leader means having the courage to share your personal mental health journey in order to help normalize the conversation about mental health. 

In her book, Trauma Stewardship, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky writes: “When we acknowledge our own fear, we have the opportunity to deepen our compassion not only for ourselves but also for every being that has ever been afraid.” To admit to a mental illness takes courage, and those that are brave enough to share their personal struggles help provide “safety” to others to do the same.

Here are five action steps for helping someone in emotional pain (taken from the National Institute of Mental Health’s website):

1. Ask. “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.
2. Keep them safe. Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention.
3. Be there. Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce — rather than increase — suicidal thoughts.
4. Help them connect. Save the numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [1-800-273-TALK (8255)] and the Crisis Text Line (741741) in your phone.
5. Stay connected. Staying in touch after a crisis, or after being discharged from care, can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.

We know that public safety personnel may be at an increased risk of mental illness/PTSD due to the nature of their work. Therefore, now is the time for all leaders (both formal and informal) to help reduce the stigmas associated with mental illness and to create work environments where it’s truly OK to not be OK. 

Up next: More guest blogs

Be well!

Lora and Rob

PPE: A Discussion on Masks and Face Shields

 A guest blog by Loss Control Consultant Troy Walsh

People in Minnesota are now required to wear a face covering in all indoor businesses and public indoor spaces, unless alone. Additionally, workers are required to wear a face covering when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.

That’s all according to Governor's Executive Order 20-81, effective July 25, 2020.

The League of Minnesota Cities team has received many questions about face coverings. Where do they need to be worn, what is allowed for face coverings, and when does a face shield become an option instead of a face mask? 

We follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidance on wearing face masks, as well as the option of a face shield.  

• The MDH has provided “Face Covering Requirements and Recommendations under the Executive Order.” 
  
  They say: It is not known whether face shields (a clear plastic barrier that covers the face) provide the same source control for droplets as face masks, but they may be an option in situations where wearing a face mask is problematic. For optimal protection, the shield should extend below the chin and to the ears, and there should be no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield's headpiece.
  
  
• The CDC has also provided information on the mask and face shield decision in their document “Considerations for Wearing Masks.”
  
  They say: It is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for masks. Some people may choose to use a face shield, in addition to a mask, when sustained close contact with other people is expected. If face shields are used without a mask, they should wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin. Disposable face shields should only be worn for a single use. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Face shield protection study

Here’s what we do and don’t know about how face shields can protect us from contracting the coronavirus: Researchers put a face shield on a type of mannequin head encasing a breathing machine and placed it a few feet from another head form spewing droplets of influenza. They measured how much influenza made it behind the face shield, into the mouth of the head form, and down the breathing machine. The face shield did a good job of blocking the cough at first, catching the big droplets. But as the minutes went on, smaller droplets (or aerosols) made their way behind the shield.

Masks are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. Face shields may not provide as much protection to respiratory droplets but are an option — especially if there are medical issues involved with the wearer.  

Up next: Public Safety Professionals and Mental Health

Stay safe, and stay healthy,
Rob and Troy

PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD National Awareness month, making this an important time to talk with your first responder teams about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In their duties, first responders often witness human suffering that can result in emotional trauma — putting them at greater risk for developing PTSD.

This condition affects not only the mental and physical health of the individual, but it can also take its toll on the performance and morale of an entire public safety department. By providing opportunities for people to talk openly about PTSD, a culture of psychological safety is encouraged. This can help to reduce the stigma of mental illness and may provide both the support and courage people need to seek help.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and the good news is that it can be successfully treated. Those who think they may have PTSD should be encouraged to seek diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or a psychiatrist. Once again, PTSD is treatable and does not have to define a life or end a career.

What is PTSD?
PTSD is a disorder in which a person has difficulty emotionally recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event(s). Outside of the traumatic event itself, PTSD is grouped into four clusters of symptoms: intrusion/re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative changes in mood and/or thought, and changes in reactivity.

Development of Symptoms

• Although medical professionals previously categorized PTSD as originating from one traumatic event, it is now recognized that continuous exposure to stressful situations — or cumulative stress — can also cause symptoms of PTSD. Examples of cumulative stress include:
• Repeated exposure to disaster, accidents, deaths, or violent acts
• Frequent need to deliver traumatic news to others
• Regular exposure to the abuse of children

What the League is Doing
Here at the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), we know this is a very challenging time for public safety departments. Departments are facing much tighter job markets, and this makes it even more important to treat and retain high-functioning individuals.

As a way to support our members, we address PTSD and other mental health issues through web resources, online training (PATROL), Safety and Loss Control Workshops, and recently we’ve hired Public Safety Program Coordinator Lora Setter to develop, implement, and coordinate our strategies in the area of PTSD and overall public safety mental health. Lora can be reached at lsetter@lmc.org or (612) 248-9551.

One web resource currently under construction is a Public Safety Mental Health Toolbox that will be hosted on the League’s website. The toolbox will have information regarding suicide prevention, therapeutic responses to mental illness, wellness programs, and other important mental health information. More information to come about that.

Working together, we can support our valued first responders by openly talking about PTSD and providing resources that promote public safety health and wellbeing.

Upcoming Podcast with Retired Captain Dan Willis
We’re also pleased to provide a podcast featuring national speaker and author Dan Willis. Dan wrote the book, Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Heart and Mind. Dan’s podcast is scheduled to air later this summer, likely in August.

Up next: More COVID-19 Resources

Stay safe, and stay healthy,
Rob

Keep CALM(S) and Carry On

Dealing with a public health crisis can bring up a variety of emotions for you and your family. These are unprecedented times of vulnerability. The COVID-19 pandemic is understandably stressful and can lead to an array of psychological and physiological symptoms — including fear about you or your loved one’s health and safety, sadness, anger, or anxiety. You may also feel boredom and fatigue, or guilt about not being able to perform some job duties during this time.

This can all contribute to psychological disruption, which can in turn affect components of our wellbeing. It’s important to identify those components and find ways to counteract this disruption. Let’s take a look at some ideas to help us manage during these difficult times, using the acronym CALMS:

C - Control and Routine

• Losing your sense of control can lead to frustration and a feeling of helplessness.
• Focus on what you can control.
• Make yourself a routine on both workdays and days off — and stick to it. Routines promote time management and can help lower anxiety and worry. Make a realistic and attainable to-do list for each day. Be sure to schedule in breaks for relaxing and enjoyable activity. 
• Try to keep the same sleep and wake schedule that you have always had. 
• Don’t let yourself get to the point that you are not sure what day of the week it is. 

A – Activity

• Stay physically active — it will help increase resiliency.
• Exercise at your own pace. Find a routine that matches your needs, abilities, and physical condition. This can include individualized activity outside or in your home, or utilizing online options, where you can find instructor-led formats and be directed through an exercise activity/class. 
• Spend time doing an activity that you love.

L – Laughter – Maintaining a Sense of Humor and Connection

• As public safety personnel, finding ways to talk to others — even a casual connection — can help you feel involved and vital.
• Outside of work, social distancing makes connections different. It is important to maintain contact with your social circle and find unique ways to connect with others right now. Utilize Skype, FaceTime, Facebook, Zoom, the phone, etc., to reach out. 
• Look for ways to do fun activities with family and friends, like virtual gatherings, virtual game nights and dinners, photo scavenger hunts, etc. 
• Try to stay involved in your community by supporting local businesses, donating supplies, or responding to a need. 

M – Mental Wellness

• Allow yourself to recognize and acknowledge uncomfortable or unusual feelings. 
• Identify your support system, and pay attention to changes in yourself and in them. Encourage one another to share thoughts and feelings. Supporting and assisting others in their time of need can benefit both the person receiving support as well as you.
• Try online mental health apps such as Calm, Moodpath, Youper, etc. 
• Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much news. Minimize watching, reading, or listening to news about COVID-19 that causes you anxiety or stress. Get updates once or twice at specific times during the day. Seek information only from trusted sources and mainly so that you can take practical steps to protect yourself and loved ones (information from the WHO, CDC, and local health authority websites will help you distinguish facts from rumors). Facts can help to minimize fears.
• You are the person most likely to know how you can de-stress, and you should not hesitate to keep yourself psychologically well. This is not a sprint — it’s a marathon.

S – Sense of Identity

• Understand that your role during this pandemic may be different than before. This can cause stress, which is a completely normal response. 
• There is nothing to be gained by fighting your circumstance. You must try to make the best out of an unpleasant situation. 
• See yourself as a survivor — not a victim — of these circumstances. Refrain from judging yourself. Utilize all of your coping resources. 

During this time, what’s most important is to take good care of yourself.

And remember — we're all in this together! As we've been saying at the League, #WeGotThis.

Up next: More COVID-19 Resources

Stay safe, and stay healthy,
Rob

Occupant Load Determination for Retail and Business - and A Thank You

As many cities prepare to start the process of reopening, public safety officials — particularly fire chiefs and fire marshals — are being asked to determine the occupancy load for retail buildings.

The Stay Safe Minnesota directive from May 20 allows for some opening of retail businesses with capacity restrictions and if additional criteria is met, as outlined in Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan.
 
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division is providing helpful guidance. The Occupant Load Determination Information Sheet provides a straightforward process on how this is determined. The second page of the document has an example with a diagram of retail space (including a storage room) and the corresponding calculations.

Additional League of Minnesota Cities resources on COVID-19 can be found here.

You Are Appreciated

Signs of support for the first responder community are continuing to appear on front lawns, billboards, and at EMS, fire, and police stations. Your communities appreciate your work and take comfort in knowing you will respond if they need help. Some of the appreciation is in the form of food, or a thumbs up from a jogger as a police car passes by. Here are a couple of signs I came upon recently.

Up next: More COVID-19 Updates

Stay safe and stay healthy,
Rob

True North Policing

As Minnesota began to experience the COVID-19 epidemic and the “Stay Home MN” executive order went into place, many EMS, fire, and police departments around the state found it necessary to cancel scheduled training, change work schedules, and make adjustments to their models for service delivery.

This was done to limit the number of personnel who could potentially be exposed to COVID-19 and to give departments flexibility if staff became ill or needed to be quarantined. Along with these changes, law enforcement agencies also began to report a decrease in their calls for service, making these very interesting times indeed.

But with changes and challenges also come opportunities. One silver lining in these interesting times is the chance for officers to engage in many of the important online training resources available to them. One of these is a free e-learning course entitled True North Constitutional Policing. 

A cool thing about the True North Constitutional Policing course is that it highlights Minnesota law enforcement, as it was created with the help of 14 Minnesota law enforcement agencies. It’s also approved by the Minnesota POST Board for 5 credit hours toward the required 16 credit hours of education.

Personnel that successfully complete the True North course will earn five mental health credits toward the POST-mandated learning objectives for: Crisis intervention and Mental illness Crisis; Conflict Management and Mediation; and Implicit Bias, Community Diversity, and Cultural Differences.

Some of the things law enforcement officers have said about the True North course:

“It was one of the best five hours of any online training I have experienced.”
– Todd S. Schuster, City of Cambridge Police Chief

“[The training] makes you take a look at yourself. It makes you feel like you’re involved with something bigger than yourself. This is a training that [all law enforcement officers] will learn from.” 
– Brian Vycital, Belle Plaine Officer

“I found the modules easy to follow and of interest. It is great when an organization can take mandated training and make it interesting and meaningful.”
– Greg Weber, City of Eden Prairie Police Chief

Along with highlighting Minnesota law enforcement and providing POST-mandated credits, True North Constitutional Policing also reminds officers about individual integrity, personal accountability, ethical decision-making, and challenges them to remember why they do what they do. These reminders are important at any time, but especially during these most challenging and interesting of times.

For more information and to enroll, go to www.truenorthpolicing.com.
If you need help registering or if you’ve got questions, please contact Admin@Truenorthpolicing.com.

Up next: More COVID-19 Updates

Stay safe and stay healthy,
Rob

Disinfecting Shared Vehicles During COVID-19

I hope you and your fellow responders are staying safe and staying well. These are trying times, and we are doing our best to provide information, answer your questions, and respond to your emails. While the office is empty, we are all working from home and staying caught up.

League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) Loss Control consultant Julie Jelen just posted some helpful information on our public works blog, The Pipeline. The topic is disinfecting shared vehicles during COVID-19.

Most of our responders and crews share vehicles, and disinfecting vehicles is part of the new normal. The blog has a link to a 3-minute video the St. Paul Police Department posted on their procedures for disinfecting their cars.

Here's Julie's post:

*   *   *

We are all aware that washing hands and disinfecting high-touch surfaces are the two best ways to defend against the spread of the coronavirus. What if you’re sharing city vehicles? How do you know you’re properly destroying the virus to protect yourself and your co-workers?

The key is to not damage those surfaces while disinfecting. According to the CDC, alcohol solutions that contain at least 70 percent alcohol are effective against the coronavirus. Most every surface in a vehicle can be safely cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Most EPA-registered household cleaners — such as Lysol Disinfecting Wipes — are also effective.

While wearing your personal protective equipment, clean these frequently touched surfaces:

• steering wheel                                            
• door handles
• arm rests
• shift lever
• buttons or touch screens
• seat adjusters
• wiper and turn signals stalks
• air vents
• seat belt buckles
• grab handles
• door arm rests
• cup holders

Good old soap and water are safe for cleaning the fabric and leather interior. For those vehicles that transport passengers, CaviCide1 is an approved spray that kills the virus within one minute. The St. Paul Police Department has a short YouTube video using this product.

What not to use:

• Do NOT use bleach or hydrogen peroxide inside the car surfaces. They will kill coronaviruses but will likely damage the car’s upholstery, vinyl, and plastics.
• Do NOT use ammonia-based cleaners (blue glass cleaners). They can damage the car touch screen anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings. It also breaks down the vinyl on the dash and makes it sticky over time.
• NOTE: Bleach, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, and many household cleaners are adept at killing germs, which is the goal. Just be aware it may potentially fade or damage a vehicle’s interior. Always follow the label instructions on the bottle and safety data sheets on proper PPE when applying these chemicals.

Additional 2.5-minute video on disinfecting your vehicle:

COVID-19 Car Tips: How to Disinfect Your Car, Safely Get Gas, and Use the Drive-Thru (Auto Trader Canada)

*   *   *

Finally, I wanted to share a chalk drawing that I came upon while out for a walk. There was not a soul around — it was just there.

Up next: More COVID-19 Updates

Keep up the good work, stay safe, and stay healthy,
Rob

PPE and Masks

As Minnesota’s EMS, fire, and police departments respond to an increasing number of emergency medical calls related to the COVID-19 pandemic, their primary protection is their personal protective equipment (PPE). This is one time when the basics really matter. 

In the blink of an eye, these calls have gone from being high risk/low probability calls to high risk/high probability calls. Be sure your department has reviewed their procedures and recently trained with their PPE for everyone’s safety.

Some reminders:

• Gloves need to be on before you leave the rig. Don’t wait to find out if you will need them or not. Review the procedure for putting them on — and particularly for taking them off.
• Review how to put on and safely remove protective clothing. Unpacking gowns or face shields and masks from the bottom of a medical bag at 3 a.m. can be confusing and time consuming if it has not been practiced.
• Be sure the PPE — particularly the face masks — fits correctly and your responders know what type of protection the mask they are using provides. As with the firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus, each responder should have a fit test for the mask they will wear on these calls. That test helps ensure the mask is making the correct seal with their face. Mustaches and beards will need to be shaved off or trimmed to maximize their protection.
• Your responders need to know how to do a “user seal check” once their mask is on. This involves a positive pressure test and a negative pressure test. They should also know the signs of a mask not sealing and the steps they can take to correct a problem. Here is a very short video that demonstrates the process.
• Finally, be sure your process for removing and discarding PPE is reviewed and the hazardous waste storage areas are in place. It is very easy to let down your diligence after a stressful call and not follow the protocols all the way through. 

The CDC has excellent guidance for EMS and fire first responders here.

The League of Minnesota Cities has consolidated its COVOD 19 information on our website here. This page contains a variety of resources and is continually updated.

Up next: More COVID-19 Updates

Stay safe,
Rob

Updates from the State Emergency Operations Center

The Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has been activated for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The center is part of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, (DPS) and the activation brings what I refer to as “all the players” together to manage and support the work going on around the state.

The staffing of the center partially depends on the type of incident or emergency. This is the incident management system in full operation.

As part of the process, the SEOC release updates periodically. This is coordinated through the DPS Office of Communication and is available to the public. Update #4 was just released yesterday. This is a source of vetted information that can assist public officials and decisionmakers at the local level in their planning and operations.

You can access the updates here via the SEOC website — find them all by clicking on the "News and Information" link in the box on the left-hand sidebar of this webpage.

Up next: More Updates

Stay safe,
Rob

Answers to COVID-19 Coverage Questions

As I write this, the League of Minnesota Cities and the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) offices are closed due to impacts of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. However, our staff is working and we are answering your questions!

LMCIT staff has been receiving questions about how workers’ compensation applies to full-time staff, paid on-call staff, and volunteer staff who are responding to emergency medical calls and may be exposed to the virus. We also know some of you are making plans to use volunteers if your call loads surge and exceed your capacity.

To help you get the answers you need, we compiled the questions we're hearing the most and gathered the answers together on our website.

As always, don’t hesitate to call us or send us an email with your questions on either the LMC or LMCIT side of the organization.

Up next: Updates From the State Emergency Operations Center

Stay safe (now more than ever),
Rob

“If You Don’t Feel Well”

Last fall when Gary Ludwig, the new president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), spoke at the Minnesota Firefighter Memorial Service, he mentioned a new initiative to reduce fatal heart attacks in the fire service. The program is called “If You Don’t Feel Well, Don’t Make it Your Farewell.”

Many of you get the national death notifications of firefighters, and it seems almost weekly we see firefighters suffering a heart attack on a call, shortly after responding to a call, or after training. Those notifications vary in the amount of detail they provide, but many note the firefighter told someone they were not feeling well prior to having the heart attack. Too often the firefighters were allowed to return home or lie down at the fire station, and the result was fatal.

The new initiative to reduce fatal heart attacks promotes an awareness of this issue and calls for an immediate EMS response. In a recent article on the program, Chief Ludwig said, “If you’re a first responder and your body is signaling to you a feeling that you have never experienced before with extreme fatigue and other symptoms, you need to act and those around you need to act.” The action must include an EMS response and evaluation.

I encourage you to bring this program into your department. Introduce the program and make it part of your culture. At the League, we are promoting the program in our Training Safety Officer classes and have added it to the safety briefings and emergency medical plans.

The IAFC has a promotional video that is a good introduction and will get your responders’ attention.

Up next: Answers to COVID-19 Coverage Questions

Stay safe,
Rob

Q&A with the League’s HR Staff: Internal Investigations

Internal investigations are difficult, and employment-related claims can be costly. The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) data indicates that employment-related liability costs increased from 13% of total liability during 2011-2014 to 20% in 2015-2018. The data for 2019 is not complete but appears to continue this trend of increasing costs.

I reached out to our human resources staff with some questions:

Q: What can an administrator/supervisor do ahead of time that would aid them in handling an internal complaint? 
A: As a good supervisor, you want to ensure your employees are aware of the appropriate channels available to raise workplace concerns. If you’re not clear on the process yourself, now is a great to time to read over your city policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements, as well as to talk with HR and your city attorney about how your city’s complaint reporting procedures work.

Generally speaking, many city personnel policies require that if an employee feels they are the victim of harassment or discrimination — or are aware of a workplace violation — then they should report it to their supervisor, HR, or another position within the organization. Once you understand the reporting process, be sure to reiterate with your employees that the city takes workplace concerns seriously by reminding them of the reporting channels available to them to maintain a safe and productive workplace.

If the complaint is against a police officer, the city should make sure it follows its own police department policy and the Peace Officer Discipline Procedures Act. Failure to do so is very problematic and can be cause for action against the chief’s license (Minn. R. 6700.2600).

Q: What is the first step a supervisor or administrator should follow when they receive an internal complaint?
A: Listen carefully to what is shared by the employee, and document what you hear. You can think of your role in this process as focusing on the issue described to you by the employee. Document who was involved, who saw or heard the incident, what happened, when and where the incident occurred, and what actions were taken.

It can be helpful to ask the reporting employee how the incident is affecting him or her, and whether they feel they can comfortably return to work. While documenting these important intake points, this is not the time to try and resolve the issue, express doubts about what is being reported by the employee by asking a lot of probing questions, or make comments such as, “I have a hard time believing this happened.” Thank the employee for bringing the concern forward.

As a supervisor, you are an agent of the city. That means you are the city and the city is you. As such, you are held to a higher standard of behavior with certain legal obligations to report certain workplace complaints.

When you’re not sure whether a concern raised is an employee simply expressing dissatisfaction or is an allegation of a policy violation, err on the side of seeking advice from the city attorney. That discussion should include a decision on whether to formally investigate, who will investigate, and whether the subject of the complaint should be on leave or have work adjusted.

Some cities require that supervisors report complaints directly to HR or the city attorney, so make sure you know who you need to bring the concern to in your organization. In all cases, ignoring a workplace complaint and hoping it will just go away is probably the worst possible thing you can do as a supervisor, both professionally and legally.

Q: What about someone stopping by and starting out the conversation with, “I don’t want you to do say anything to anyone about my concerns”?
A: In the supervisory role and as an agent of the city, you cannot promise confidentiality. Your response to a request like this should include something such as, “I handle concerns as discreetly as I can, but please know that I’m under an obligation to report allegations of workplace violations to city management, regardless of whether you or I personally want it to go forward.”

Q: What’s next?
A: If you haven’t already done so, you need to promptly bring the issue forward to your next management level, HR, or the city attorney. The decision-makers will have to decide whether to commence a formal investigation, whether to retain an independent investigator, whether to place the accused employee on leave (or make other adjustments), and how to address the complainant’s work environment if she/he expresses reluctance to continue working while an investigation is pending.

There can be timeframes associated with grievance processing, so bringing the issue forward in a timely matter is vital!

Follow the protocol HR or your city attorney outlines. It’s a great rule of thumb to avoid talking about workplace concerns with others unless they are on a need-to-know basis.

Also avoiding any retaliatory behavior is key to maintaining the integrity of your city’s complaint process. Did you know retaliation charges were the most common charge filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2019 — making up 51.6% of all charges filed?

Here are some common retaliatory actions to avoid, but be sure to touch base with your city attorney if you have any questions about how to handle any changes to scheduling or assignments following an employee raising a workplace concern:

• Ignoring the reporting employee in meetings and other workplace activities.
• Firing, demoting, disciplining, or otherwise treating the reporting employee differently.
• Criticizing the reporting employee for raising a concern.
• Discussing the complaint with anyone within the city, other than those with a business need to know, such as human resources and the city attorney.

Q: What are some common problem areas you see in administrators handling internal complaints?
A: Ignoring a problem and hoping it will just go away is probably the worst possible thing you can do as a supervisor, both professionally and legally. It is important to be thoughtful about deciding who will investigate the complaint and to communicate with the complainant periodically throughout the process.

Additionally, here are other bad actions to avoid:

• Engaging in retaliatory behavior.
• Joking about the incident.
• Discussing or emailing the concern with others, unless they include individuals on a need-to-know basis in your organization. Not sure if someone is a need-to-know individual? Be sure to ask HR or the city attorney.

Q: Yikes! All of this seems a little overwhelming about what I can and cannot say when an employee comes into my office with a workplace concern.
A: As a supervisor, you oversee the day-to-day performance of your employees. In your management role, you likely excel in your organizational and communication skills. Your effective communication skills are even more crucial when you receive an employee complaint.

So learn about your city’s complaint procedure, ensure your employees are familiar with the process to raise workplace concerns, and be cognizant that as a supervisor you are held to a higher standard with legal obligations to share workplace complaints so they may be investigated appropriately.

Know where to go if you have any questions within the complaint process (likely your HR team or the city attorney). Following these crucial steps will help you not only continue your great leadership of your team, but also set the city up for success in promoting a safe and productive workplace!

Thanks to the League of Minnesota Cities Human Resources team for their advice and thoughtful responses.

Up next: More on the Heart Attack Detection Program from the International Association of Fire Chiefs

Stay safe,
Rob

New Position Dedicated to Mental Health and First Responders

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust recently created and filled a new position to focus on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in our first responders’ community. Here is an excerpt from the position announcement:

The League of Minnesota Cities has hired Lora Setter to fill a newly created public safety program coordinator position. Lora will be working with public safety groups, treatment professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders to promote research, awareness, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of PTSD as it relates to emergency responders.

“Minnesota’s public safety professionals are there for our communities every day. Our goal is to make sure they have the resources and support they need to continue to provide these essential services,” said Trust Administrator Dan Greensweig. “Setter’s experience and expertise will help us accomplish that.”

The creation of this position is in response to member engagement and claims data indicating that a focus on mental health will help cities maintain high-quality public safety services.

Trust Board Chair and Centerville City Councilmember D. Love added, “We are hearing from our members that health and safety of the public and first responders is major priority. Aligning with our values, we felt a need to respond, build further expertise, and provide leadership on this risk issue in an effort to assist our members with new approaches.”

We welcome Lora on board and look forward to working with her.

For more information, see the full position announcement.

Up next: Handling Internal Complaints with LMC Human Resources

Stay safe,
Rob

HERO Center

The HERO Training Center — the state’s newest public safety training facility — had its grand opening this week in Cottage Grove. The full name of the facility is the Health Emergency Response Occupations (HERO) Training Center.

The project budget was $20.5 million: including an $11 million contribution from the State of Minnesota, and the remaining was funded by the cities of Cottage Grove and Woodbury. In addition to providing a safe location for EMS, fire and police to train, “it will create opportunities for hosting community-based safety education and training including CPR, firearms, and recreational vehicle training.”

The center is well laid out to allow multiple groups to use it at the same time. The center contains two indoor firearms ranges, with the larger one being 50 yards long, 12 lanes wide, and having the ability to bring a squad car in as a prop. There is a large mat room, a two-story tactical training area with moveable walls, a firearms simulator, and ample classrooms. The technology for the classrooms was donated by the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission.

Two “reality-based training houses” are located outside toward the rear of the main building. One house is a split-entry and the other is a rambler-style home that both have breach doors and tactical entry doors. The site has two acres of fields reserved for outdoor and K9 training.

The facility can be reserved by contacting the training center manager, Dan Anselment, at (651) 458-2811 or at danselment@herocentermn.org.

By the size of the crowd at the grand opening, there is a lot of interest and community pride in the project. We congratulate the cities of Cottage Grove and Woodbury — and their staff — on the completion of the center and a job well done.

Up next: The League’s New Position Dedicated to Mental Health and First Responders

Stay safe,
Rob