Not-so-happy Holidays: Tips for Wellness and Resilience This Season

Guest post by Lora Setter, LMCIT public safety coordinator

Listening to holiday music recently, I heard the announcer say that the holidays are “about peace, love, joy, and family.” Though I don’t disagree, for many people the holiday season can be anything but peaceful and joyful. This is especially true for first responders like police officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel. For public safety people, the holidays may seem to be more about car accidents, DWI arrests, shoplifting calls, disputes, house fires, and other tragic events in the communities they serve. 

Along with challenging work, first responders can experience the same holiday stress that others may experience, such as the effect of shorter days and cold nights, strained relationships with family members, illness, potent reminders of grief and loss, and financial pressures. 

Some ideas for keeping the holidays bright are:  

1. Prioritize and guard your sleep. Sleep is the most important component for mental wellness. This can be difficult with short staffing and holiday commitments, but make sure that in every 24 hours you spend at least seven hours getting good-quality sleep.
   
   
2. Practice gratitude. Start each day thinking about three things for which you’re thankful. Studies prove that by doing this you help your brain by increasing dopamine and serotonin – the happiness hormones. 
   
   
3. Think about the important purpose of what you do as a public safety professional. Victor Frankl said, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstance, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” The community counts on you to be there when they need help. It’s tough to miss a school concert, a family get-together, or a friend’s party because of work. Staying focused on the importance and purpose of the work you do can help you manage these tradeoffs. 
   
   
4. Check-in with yourself often. Ask yourself: Am I in touch with how I’m feeling? Am I watching too much TV? Drinking too much? Feeling cynical and angry? 
   
   
5. Talk to a trusted friend, spiritual advisor, or peer support person about how you’re feeling. 
   
   
6. Eat well. Many community members like to show their appreciation by dropping off cookies and other treats. Be sure to balance those treats with a healthy diet.  
   
   
7. Do your best to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. This is easier said than done during the busy holiday season. A brisk walk outside or a few laps around the shopping center count, too. If your department allows you to exercise on duty, take advantage of it to help maintain resilience. 
   
   
8. Reach out to others and promote connection. Ask a colleague how they’re feeling. Help colleagues feel connected and cared for. 
   
   
9. Take breaks from social media. Use the time for restorative practices such as meditation and mindfulness, or to be present with loved ones.  
   
   
10. Practice self-compassion. Talk to yourself like you would a friend. Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better, when you know better do better.” Know that you’re doing the best you can. 
    
    
11. Try dwelling on the positive and not the negative. Our brains are wired to focus on negative events to keep us safe, especially when it’s your job to see what’s wrong with the picture. Take as many opportunities as you can to focus on the positives in your life. You’ll be doing your brain a much-needed favor.  
    
    
12. Set a budget for gift giving. Being financially strapped and working more to cover holiday bills can add to the stress of the season. 

Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and all through the year! 

Updated LMC Body-Worn Camera Policy Now Available

Body-worn cameras continue to be a useful tool in many police departments across the country. These cameras enhance transparency with their communities and gather evidence at crime scenes and during citizen encounters. Although state law offers significant guidance on policies governing law enforcement use of body-worn cameras and the resulting data, changes made to Minnesota laws in 2023 have made the laws more complicated, particularly with respect to data administration issues including data classifications, access procedures, retention policies, and data security safeguards.  

Agencies need to update policies to adhere to new laws

These changes reflect 2023 amendments to Minnesota Statutes § 13.825 and § 626.8473 and are mandatory policy elements that will require agencies to update their policies. The new law provides for timely access to body-warn camera data by designated survivors and their legal representative within 14 days after an incident unless there is a compelling reason to believe that this public classification and knowledge of this data would interfere with an active investigation. This is a higher standard for maintaining confidentiality than provided by Minnesota Statute § 13.82, subdivision 7, which classifies active investigative data as confidential without any need to show that access would hamper an investigation. Agencies should note that Minnesota Statutes § 13.825 and § 626.8473 require that the chief law enforcement officer, rather than a designee or responsible authority, be the one to provide the required written notice when the agency withholds access to data in the circumstances specified.       

Under Minnesota statute, the chief officer of every state and local law enforcement agency that uses or proposes to use a portable recording system or body-worn cameras must establish and enforce a written policy governing their use. The written policy must also be posted on the agency’s website (if the agency has one). Agencies are also required to provide an opportunity for public comment and input in developing and adopting the policy. Lastly, an agency must arrange for an independent biennial audit of the data to determine whether data are appropriately classified, how the data are used, whether the data are destroyed as required, and to verify agency compliance with the authorization to access data and sharing among agencies under subdivisions of Minnesota Statute § 13.825.  

LMC model policies, memos provide guidance

In response to the changes in state law, the League of Minnesota Cities recently provided updated guidance in its Use of Body-Worn Cameras information memo and the Body-Worn Cameras Model Policy for agencies to consider adopting. In addition to these documents, the League provides additional body-worn camera guidance in the Planning for Critical Incident Response information memo and accompanying Critical Incident Response Model Policy. 

If you have any questions related to these information memos or model policies, you may contact me at (651) 215-4051 or tstille@lmc.org.  

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy

New Grant Opportunity Aims to Address Peace Officer Shortage in Minnesota

The Minnesota Legislature recently approved the establishment of a program within the Department of Public Safety to fund the law enforcement education and training of two- and four-year college graduates. The program, known as the Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training (ICPOET) Program, is intended to address the critical shortage of peace officers in the state. 

Grants of up to $50,000 available 

The ICPOET Program, established under Minn. State § 626.8516, provides grants to local and tribal law enforcement agencies that have developed a plan to recruit, educate, and train highly qualified two- and four-year college graduates to become licensed-eligible peace officers in the state. A chief law enforcement officer of an agency may apply for a grant of up to $50,000 for the cost of educating, training, and salary of an eligible candidate until the candidate is licensed by the POST Board as a peace officer.

The request for proposal (RFP) grant forms will be available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website before the end of the year. Applications are expected to close before Jan. 31, 2024. 

Geographic diversity in grant distribution will be considered based on applications received. Two regionally diverse education providers, Alexandria Technical & Community College and Hennepin Technical College, have been designated to provide the required intensive comprehensive law enforcement education and skills training to eligible peace officer candidates. 

Compare ICPOET and Pathways to Policing grants

The ICPOET grant is in addition to the Pathways to Policing grant opportunities that will be available soon for 2024, although there are no agency matching requirements for the ICPOET grant and it is specifically for career transition candidates who already possess a two- or four-year degree. The current available funding is $2.5 million for the ICPOET grant and $1.56 million for the Pathways to Policing grant. View this chart to compare the ICPOET and Pathways to Policing grants. 

Attend an information session to learn more

Two information sessions are planned before the RFP opens:

• Monday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m - Zoom link for Dec. 4 session
• Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. - Zoom link for Dec. 13 session

Law enforcement agencies may also schedule individual information sessions before the RFP opens. 

Questions about grants opportunities?

If you have any questions related to the ICPOET program, you may contact program administrator Mary Vukelich at the Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-201-7623 or Mary.Vukelich@state.mn.us. If you have questions on the Pathways to Policing program, you may contact grants administrator Kristin Lail at the Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-230-3358 or Kristin.Lail@state.mn.us.  

You may also contact me at 651-215-4051 or tstille@lmc.org. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy

“I Could See It Coming:” Training Safety Officer Key to Preventing Training Injuries

A training safety officer 

observes firearms training

in New Prague. 

Training safety continues to be a major concern for police departments across the country. There have recently been serious training incidents, including deaths, in California, Texas, and Florida. Before that there were incidents in Illinois, Georgia, Missouri, and Virginia, along with many other states as the list goes on and on to include Minnesota.

Police training needs to be as realistic as possible and, as a result, has become more intense and scenario based. Training needs to be realistic whether it is on the firing range, during defensive tactics training, or active shooter response training.  Training must closely match what officers do in real life as we have all heard the phrase, “You fight like you train, so you need to train like you fight.”  

But how can we train at a high level of intensity while minimizing injuries sustained during training? Most training injuries share one common trait: they could have been prevented. In other words, “If it’s predictable, it’s preventable.” Injuries can be prevented by adopting the core concept of using a training safety officer (TSO) who can intervene when they “see it coming” during active training.  

Training Injuries Are Costly

Training injuries currently make up about 12% of all police injury claims from departments insured by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), down from 22% when the TSO began. These injuries amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in incurred costs yearly and average nearly $58,000 per claim. Training injuries have ranged from muscle strains and broken bones to heart attacks and even gunshot injuries. The leading causes of police training injuries have been found to be related to body temperature, the use of wrestling mats, and “off-script behavior.” Training safety education addresses each of these main causes of training injuries.  

TSO Program Teaches How to Predict Problems, Prevent Injuries

Blaine Police Department
on Sept. 26.

Several times a year, including recently at the Blaine Police Department, LMCIT offers training safety officer classes, and as part of that training, reviews incidents and accidents that have occurred during training nationwide. The TSO concept builds on the theory that we can be trained to predict problems and take appropriate steps to prevent an accident.  

The TSO program involves teaching the six program steps:

• Planning meeting
• Developing a safety plan
• Site inspection and set-up
• Safety briefing
• Observation and use of role players (when applicable)
• After-action review (which can show you where to improve your training) 

These six steps provide a framework to build upon as police departments plan their own training sessions to address their individual department’s needs.  

The TSO training includes a review of an IACP Research Study that found the use of a “safety lecture” or briefing before training can reduce the chances of an injury by 41%. Additionally, instilling a “culture of safety” within your training program is of utmost importance. The TSO training stresses that certain groups are more likely to experience injuries, including officers in their first five years on the job and officers who are overweight or not physically fit. The training emphasizes the importance of developing an internal wellness and fitness program for your agency, providing informational resources and guidance on fitness and nutrition, and creating an incentive program for officers who participate and engage in healthy habits.     

A key to the TSO concept is the teamwork between the safety officer and the instructor. The TSO provides the oversight, control, and guidance while working with the instructor to ensure all trainees have a professional and safe experience. The TSO program is offered to both police and fire departments across the Minnesota, and we thank the Blaine Police Department for sponsoring our most recent training class and for being an early adopter of the TSO program. It was quite evident that the Blaine Police Department follows their core values of serving their community and department members with "integrity, respect, and professionalism.”

TSO Program Expands Nationwide

Rob Boe instructing the TSO program
to a national training group during the
early years of the program.

Rob Boe, former LMCIT public safety project coordinator, developed the TSO program for Minnesota police and fire departments more than 10 years ago. In 2015, Boe attended the National PRIMA Conference and accepted a first-place Outstanding Achievement Award for the Intergovernmental Risk Pool Program category for his development of the TSO program. The core concepts of the program are now taught across the nation, including in Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, and New York.  

This video by the Kentucky League of Cities, which recently adopted the program, outlines the key components of a successful TSO program and discusses the need for and benefits of a formal officer safety program for injury prevention during training exercises. It is believed that the TSO program has prevented many training accidents from occurring across the United States and we thank Rob for his many contributions to our police and fire departments across the state! Additional details on the program can be found at lmc.org/tso.

If you have any comments or questions related to the TSO program, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy

Participate in Critical Conversations for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Guest post by Lora Setter, public safety program coordinator for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust

Public safety professionals face many job-related stressors that can negatively impact their mental health and well-being. Emotional injuries and suicide among public safety professionals are a significant concern. In fact, a 2017 study found that police officers and firefighters were more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

In observance of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, NAMI Minnesota invites the public to register for a series of free virtual events.

Event #1: Cultural Responsiveness for Suicide Prevention: A Panel Discussion

A discussion on improving cultural responsiveness for suicide prevention gatekeepers.

• Friday, Sept. 8, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
• Zoom registration 

Event #2: Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) – two events

Learn the three steps anyone can take to help prevent suicide. 

• Thursday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
• Zoom registration 
  
  
• Thursday, Sept. 21, 3-4:30 p.m.
• Zoom registration 

Event #3: Responding to Suicide Loss

Best practices on supporting someone after a suicide loss and perspectives from a suicide loss survivor.

• Friday, Sept. 15, 12:30-1:30 p.m. 
• Zoom registration 

Minnesota POST Board Now Requires Law Enforcement Agencies to Have Policy on Public Assembly and First Amendment Activity

There are many special rules and considerations that apply when policing First Amendment-protected activities. 

Law enforcement officers have dual and sometimes conflicting responsibilities. They must safeguard First Amendment rights while also making sure protesters do not violate the rights of others or cause violence. Policing protests requires careful planning and consideration of participants’ First Amendment rights.

It is important to prepare a detailed operations plan to guide all officers involved in an event. Many Minnesota cities have also banned targeted residential protests in response to several neighborhood demonstrations. In Frisby v. Schultz, the 1988 U.S. Supreme Court held that a categorical ban on residential protesting was facially constitutional under the First Amendment and that these ordinances are subject to the “time, place, and manner test.” The Minnesota Court of Appeals also upheld a residential picketing ordinance in the Town of White Bear in the 1990 case of State v. Castellano.

The League Has Resources to Help

It is important to learn the legal concepts related to First Amendment free speech rights in the U.S. and State of Minnesota Constitutions and how cities balance them with public safety concerns. The League has published an information memo, “First Amendment Concepts for Protests in Cities,” where you can read about speech that is not protected, ways to deal with unpopular ideas, and how to regulate protests, marches, and demonstrations in city parks or streets and in residential areas by city ordinance.  

The League also has a Guide for Communicating During a City Crisis, including protests and demonstrations, that describes tools cities can use when communicating with the media, residents, and others. 

In addition, the League has a residential picketing and protests preparation checklist that can be used to regulate and prepare for a neighborhood protest or demonstration in your city and take enforcement action for the few statutes in the criminal code that are particularly relevant to policing protests. 

The proper preparation is best achieved through policy, training, good communication and crowd management, while also protecting the First and Fourth Amendment rights of all involved. The residential protest guide, links to sample city ordinances, and a PATROL memorandum of law on policing protests are available by sending an email to me at tstille@lmc.org.

PATROL Offers New Training Course on Policing Protests

The League now offers a Peace Officer Accredited Training Online (PATROL) training course on policing protests that became available July 1. The course can be accessed with your login and password on the PATROL login page. If you don’t have a subscription, find out how your department can join PATROL. PATROL is supported by the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, and the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association.

Model Policies Available on POST Board Website

As of May 30, the Minnesota POST Board requires all law enforcement agencies adopt, implement, and enforce policies based on its model policies per MN Rule 6700.1615, including a “Public Assembly/First Amendment Activity” policy, which can be accessed on the POST Board website. 

The required policies must be posted on your agency’s website (or in a public area of the physical premises for agencies without a website) and a copy of the current version of each required policy must be provided on request by an individual or organization. By MN Rule 6700.1615, Subp. 1 and 2, your newly required department policy must include the “identical or substantially similar” provisions of the POST Board’s model policy, although it may incorporate additional agency-specific requirements or more stringent requirements to ensure it is respectful of First Amendment rights, focuses on the safety of all involved, and appropriately identifies and describes any ministerial and discretionary duties and acts within the policy.   

Due to conflicting rules and legal liabilities of policing protests and demonstrations, it is recommended that a law enforcement agency consult with their legal advisor or city attorney before implementing any regulations of speech through a city ordinance or adopting any new policies, including the newly required “Public Assembly/First Amendment Activity” policy, to ensure it is “substantially similar” to the board’s model policy. 

If you have any specific comments or questions or would like to obtain the League resources mentioned above, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy

Finding Purpose in the Pain

Guest post from interview with Dr. Kiri Faul of Faul Psychological 

As a matter of their jobs, public safety professionals regularly respond to stressful and potentially traumatic situations. What seems out of the ordinary – responding to serious injury and death scenes, witnessing the impact of violence and abuse, not being able to prevent a tragedy from occurring – becomes commonplace. These events may impact first responders in diverse physical, mental and emotional ways. Some emotional stress following a traumatic incident is a normal response. Typically, this could include anxiety, fatigue, irritability, problems sleeping, exaggerated response, change in appetite and feeling overwhelmed. 

Over time, the frequency of these experiences can contribute to lingering effects and negative symptoms – intrusive memories, nightmares, changes in thinking and mood. These behaviors are often diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But there’s another phenomenon that first responders may experience when they commit to working through these emotions: post-traumatic growth. Developed by psychologists Richard Tedeschi, PhD, and Lawrence Calhoun, PhD, in the 1990s, post-traumatic growth is the ability to process trauma and emerge from a traumatic or stressful situation even stronger than before.  

This PTSD Awareness Day, let’s learn about the profound and transformative experience of post-traumatic growth and strategies for cultivating a growth mindset after a triggering event. 

Strength can come from the 'transformative power' of trauma

When people have positive coping strategies and find healthy ways to process their experiences, they can experience post-traumatic growth. Dr. Kiri Faul, a licensed psychologist who works with the public safety community, has seen many examples of post-traumatic growth throughout her career. But many people may not even realize how trauma and stress changes their outlook on life. 

“Going through trauma can have this transformative power for an individual,” Faul said. “Post-traumatic growth is the idea that you can work through the pain and trauma with the goal of making oneself better and learning and growing from the experience. It’s about not just bouncing back to baseline, but to come back even stronger.”

Post-traumatic growth looks different for each individual, but Faul said it’s often described as “finding purpose in the pain.” People can experience improved relationships, a heightened sense of gratitude, improved self-esteem, and other positive emotions through this experience. Another outcome is that people often emerge with a different perspective that allows them to have a greater appreciation for the people in their lives and the experiences that they face. This new outlook can help them navigate future adverse experiences. 

“While we recognize that pain can be present, we gain strength by redirecting that pain,” Faul said.

These experiences can also make first responders more compassionate and more relatable, helping them build a greater understanding of people in crisis and resulting in positive relationships in the workplace and in the community. 

When public safety professionals experience trauma and stress, how they cope with the situation is a key factor contributing to post-traumatic growth, Faul said. Healthy coping strategies like exercise, quality sleep or connecting with loved ones can help individuals process and move through pain, while negative coping strategies like substance abuse and avoidance often lead to worse outcomes. Evidence also shows that a person’s level of resiliency, mindset, support systems, and past experiences can contribute to how much of an impact trauma has on an individual. 

Peer support: Learning and growing from common experiences

Another way to promote post-traumatic growth in the public safety community is by implementing peer support programs. Peer support is emotional and practical support between two people who often share a common experience. Recent studies indicate that first responders who engage in peer support experience increased well-being and post-traumatic growth. 

Normalizing conversations about traumatic experiences and stress in public safety workplaces can help first responders feel less alone after a triggering event. They can recognize a trauma response and tools to intervene early if needed to promote a healthy response.  

Beyond normalizing the conversation, Faul said it’s important to create opportunities for public safety professionals to talk about their traumatic experiences. Whether that’s critical incident briefings at work, peer support after a tough call, family and friends with a listening ear, or structured counseling, talking about trauma is essential. 

Talking about the experience can help an individual focus on their thoughts and feelings about what occurred and create their own narrative about what happened. This gives them control and insight, preventing negative thoughts from spiraling, she said. 

Compassion is key

Lastly, Faul encourages community members to remember that first responders need our compassion and support – we can help the public safety community maintain resilience despite these significant exposures to trauma.

 

 

Campaign Aims to Build Trust Between Police Agencies and the Communities They Serve

Pillar 1: Building Trust & Legitimacy

The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing

Photo Credit: Plymouth Police Department

In a world where information can spread so quickly, it is critical — now more than ever — that law enforcement agencies have the trust of their communities. For agencies to be truly effective, officers and agencies must have their community’s active support. Unfortunately, due to a small number of high-profile incidents, there remains a distrust of the policing profession in some cities.

Recently, I attended an International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) listening session that took place at the Bloomington Civic Plaza and was led by IACP President John Letteney. The listening session introduced IACP’s new Trust Building Campaign, and the discussions focused on three key questions:  

• What is the biggest challenge facing your agency?
• What is the biggest challenge facing the law enforcement profession?
• What can IACP do to assist in addressing these challenges?

The forum provided police leaders from across Minnesota an opportunity to share their experience and their views on the changing complexities and dynamics confronting the police profession. The discussions that took place will allow the IACP leadership to better represent the profession’s needs and help direct the association’s efforts as they develop critical assistance programs and advocate on behalf of law enforcement with White House and federal agency officials, as well as key leaders in Congress.  

The IACP Trust Building Campaign seeks to enhance trust between police agencies and the communities they serve by ensuring positive community-police partnerships that promote safe, effective interactions; create strategies to prevent and reduce crime; and improve the well-being and quality of life for all.  

The initiative involves implementing 25 key policies and practices within the following six focus areas that are essential to enhancing trust and collaboration between communities and police:

• Bias-free policing
• Use of force
• Leadership and culture
• Recruitment, hiring, and retention
• Victim services
• Community relations

How Can Your Police Department Join the Campaign?

Minnesota police agencies are invited to join other agencies across the United States and globally in pledging to enhance trust and collaboration between police and the communities they serve. 

To join the Trust Building Campaign, police agencies must pledge to prioritize actions to encourage positive community-police partnerships within the six focus areas and implement 25 key policies and promising practices. Agencies and organizations demonstrating a serious commitment to implementing the key action items in all six areas will become publicly recognized members of the Trust Building Campaign. 

Read the complete checklist of the 25 best practices to adopt as part of this campaign. IACP also has many resources to assist agencies in developing and implementing these policies and practices on the Trust Building Campaign webpage under the “Key Focus Areas and IACP Resources Available to Assist Agencies” section. 

There is nothing more important to the success of policing than the trust of the public. Through the Trust Building Campaign, the IACP is committed to addressing this principle on a national and international level. For additional information, including how to take the pledge, a press and social media toolkit, and to watch a video from Chief Letteney, please visit the Trust Building Campaign webpage.

Questions on this campaign can be sent to trustbuildingcampaign@theiacp.org. If you have any specific comments or questions related to the IACP listening session, you may also contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy

Memorial Honors Minnesota’s Fallen Peace Officers

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress, National Police Week pays special recognition to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. 

National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community. On May 15, the Minnesota law enforcement community honored and remembered its fallen officers and their families with a 24-hour vigil at the memorial site located on the grounds of the State Capitol.

Walking the line, May 15, 2023

Officers recognized during ceremony, vigil

The event is hosted by Minnesota’s Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA), with municipal police officers, county deputies, state troopers, and officers from other law enforcement agencies from around the state providing an honor guard. LEMA is also the organization that assists departments and family members after an officer has died in the line of duty.  

Two long-standing rituals and traditions take place during the ceremony — officers ”standing guard” and officers “walking the line” (where a peace officer continually walks the thin blue line that represents law enforcement standing between the public and chaos). As officers end their vigil, they announce a fallen officer’s name and ring a bell three times.

Standing guard, May 15, 2023

The Minnesota Peace Officers Memorial is located at the southeastern corner of the mall, near the corner of Wabasha Street and 12th Street East. It consists of a series of tall white pillars that face downtown. A lighted thin blue line runs the steps through the pillars. The “thin blue line” is a well-known term that refers to the concept of the police as the line which keeps society from descending into violent chaos. When an officer is killed, the line is temporarily broken. The thin blue line at the memorial ends at a beautiful block of black marble which is engraved, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9.”

Watch highlights from a past MN LEMA memorial service. For more information on the services and the law enforcement memorial, visit the LEMA website.  

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy

Gibbon Fire Department Purchases ‘First of Its Kind’ Rural Rescue Response Trailer

 A guest post by LMCIT Public Safety Specialist Troy Walsh

The Gibbon Fire Department (GFD) recently acquired a Rural Rescue Response Trailer, otherwise known as R3. This specialty trailer is designed for rescues in the agricultural industry, including grain bins. 

Minnesota historically is in the top three states with the most grain entrapment cases, behind Indiana and Iowa, according to a report published in April 2022. And with grain bin accidents increasing nearly 10% in recent years, the need for such equipment unfortunately persists. 

The R3 is a concept that became reality after the GFD conducted Minnesota’s only successful grain bin rescue in 2019, when the GFD, with the assistance of a neighboring farmer’s grain vac, rescued a local farmer who had become trapped.

The 2019 rescue emphasized the need for a specialized rescue trailer that could help not only Gibbon, but the entire region. The GFD is in the process of assembling a focused response team to specialize in operating the R3 and will hold training sessions for the entire department as well as the nine neighboring communities they serve under mutual aid agreements.

The GFD was aware of special grain vacs on the market, but there was nothing designed for emergency use with all the needs for a grain bin rescue. The department worked with agricultural partners to obtain funding for a concept trailer that includes a powered grain vac and grain bin rescue tools. The R3 has tools to help a rescue crew protect the victim as the crew works to move the grain away in hopes of freeing the trapped individual. This specific trailer is the first of its kind and may pave the way for other departments to get similar specialty equipment. 

Communities Come Together to Fund R3 Trailer

Due to the unique specialization of the R3 trailer, the GFD was unable to use any existing grant funding. They had to rely on community donations and their experience and ingenuity for the R3 trailer’s creation. From the start, the GFD described this as not a local resource, but rather one that would serve several communities through existing mutual aid agreements. This regional focus aided in generating donations from the communities. 

Farmers May Apply for State Funding to Install Safety Measures 

To prevent people from falling into or being trapped in grain bins or silos, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers a grant to Minnesota farmers for $400 per bin to install safety measures, including fall protection systems, engineering controls to prevent contact with an auger or other moving parts, and other grain storage facility safety equipment. The application period ends June 30. Read more about this grain storage facility cost-share program. 

More information on the R3 can be found on the Gibbon Fire and Rescue YouTube channel, or by calling firefighter Nate Firle at 320-979-4835.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at twalsh@lmc.org or (651) 281-1231. 

Remember:   Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe!

Troy

Your Department Needs a Mental Health Response Policy – Here’s Why

A NAMI resource guide for those
experiencing a mental health crisis.

In 2020, Minnesota enacted new legislation under Minn. Stat., § 609.066, subd. 1a (4) restricting the circumstances under which peace officers may use deadly force and, along the way, instructed that peace officers should use “special care” when interacting with individuals with known physical, mental health, developmental, or intellectual disabilities as an individual's disability may affect their ability to understand or comply with commands from peace officers. 

At present, many law enforcement agencies are experiencing high demand for crisis services but have no clear answers for what to do about it. The statistics are concerning: One-fifth of adults and nearly one-half of adolescents in the United States live with a mental illness.                                                       

Additionally, estimates hold that between 6% and 10% of all police calls involve someone with a serious mental illness. These calls all too often end in tragedy — approximately 23% of those killed by officers in 2015 had a mental illness.       

Best Practices in Law Enforcement Responses to Mental Health Crisis

A Responses to Mental Health Crises
guide for law enforcement agencies.

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) partnered with the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA), the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association (MSA), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and numerous statewide stakeholders to develop a best practice guide and model policy for law enforcement personnel responding to mental health crisis calls.

The guide chronicles current response challenges faced by agencies and identifies realistic solutions and approaches for addressing those challenges based on a set of mutually agreed-upon guiding principles. The best-practices guide explains why a mental health crisis became a police matter, the response goals, guiding principles, and what cities can do to assess their own needs and develop a local approach using Minnesota examples and initiatives.  

The differences in resources from one place to another in Minnesota can be vast. Law enforcement managers using this guide are encouraged to consider whether there are gaps or needs for improvement in the services currently being provided in their community, and to explore whether it is possible to address them through additional resources, collaboration, or training.

Download the guide, “Best Practices in Law Enforcement Responses to Mental Health Crises” (PDF).

Mental Health Crisis Data

In 2022, Minnesota lawmakers amended sections of the Data Practices Act and the Health Records Act to provide law enforcement with clearer access to mental health information about persons in active crisis. When responding to a mental health crisis, Minnesota law now allows law enforcement agencies to obtain limited but private mental health information about the person in crisis to aid in managing the situation safely. Agencies that seek or use this sensitive information are required to have a written policy establishing privacy safeguards. 

View the informational memo and download the model policy, “Mental Health Crisis Data” (PDFs).

Use LMC’s model policy to get started

LMCIT has also created a model policy so agencies can point toward a tool that will help keep their officers and the community safe.  The model policy establishes guidelines for officers responding to mental health crisis situations and supplements the information provided in the best practices guide.  

A link to the LMC model “Responding to Mental Health Crisis Calls” Policy can be found below and addresses several key areas:

• The purpose of the policy.
• The priorities and objectives established within the policy, including providing for the safety of all concerned.
• The use of mobile crisis response teams and/or an embedded mental health professional or social worker including referrals to services and treatment.
• The appropriate response, discretion, and disengagement in a crisis call.
• Use of transport holds under Minn. Stat., § 253B.051. 
• Required incident or admission reports.
• The crisis intervention and mental illness training requirements of Minn. Stat., § 626.8469.

Download the model policy, “Responding to Mental Health Crisis Calls” (PDF).

Benchmark Analytics Research Study

LMCIT recently completed the first year of a research study with Benchmark Analytics to utilize predictive analysis to identify key risks facing Trust member law enforcement agencies and to provide evidence-based recommendations for approaches most likely to address these risks. 

One of the identified evidenced-based practices focused on how an agency managed their response to mental health related calls. The research showed a moderate correlation to a reduction in liability claims for agencies that had a specific policy on identifying and engaging individuals in mental health crisis, and/or had extensive training for responding to mental health crises calls in their community. 

If you have any questions or would like to have a summary copy of the Benchmark Analytics research study referenced above, please contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051.

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful.

Tracy

Your Department Needs a Law Enforcement Emergency Vehicle Operations Policy – Here’s Why

Law Enforcement in the United States is experiencing immense change through various police reform practices and policies.  Emergency vehicle operations are an integral part of law enforcement’s commitment to public safety. Minnesota law states that law enforcement agencies shall make reasonable efforts to guide their officers in the safe and responsible performance of their emergency response duties. The law does not protect the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Officers must exercise sound professional judgment in the operation of emergency vehicles, mindful of our overarching duty to protect public safety as it involves increased risks to persons and property. By state statute, officers must balance these risks against the need for a prompt response, while also driving with due regard for the safety of persons using the street.  

While state statutes and rules provide the foundation for the conduct of officers, it is also important for law enforcement agencies to implement guidelines, policies, and continuous and effective training to ensure proper action during emergency vehicle operations. By statute, this training must be designed to give officers both skills and decision-making ability so that emergency vehicle operations can be resolved safely and successfully.

Benchmark Analytics Research Study

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) recently completed the first year of a research study with Benchmark Analytics to utilize predictive analysis to identify key risks facing Trust member law enforcement agencies and to provide evidence-based recommendations for approaches most likely to address these risks. One of the identified evidenced-based practices focused on how an agency managed emergency call response. The research showed a strong correlation to a reduction in liability claims for agencies that had an emergency vehicles operation policy for responding to incidents such as medicals, crimes in progress, and fire calls.

We recommend all law enforcement agencies consider adopting a specific emergency vehicle operations policy, like the one created by the Trust (see model policy below), in addition to the vehicle pursuits policy required by law. Officers are also mandated to train in emergency vehicle operations and in the conduct of police pursuits when the chief law enforcement officer determines that the officer may be involved in a police pursuit of a vehicle being operated in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.487 given the officer’s responsibilities. This training shall consist of at least eight hours of classroom and skills-based training every five years.

Use LMC’s model policy to get started

LMCIT has created a model policy so agencies can point toward a tool that will help keep their officers safe and fulfill the statutory obligation of Minn. Stat. § 626.8458, subd. 1 and Minn. Stat. § 169.17.  

This LMC Model Law Enforcement Emergency Vehicle Operations Policy addresses:

• The purpose of the policy
• When officers are expected to use their sound professional judgment in the operation of emergency vehicles
• When officers should discontinue an emergency response
• What vehicle equipment must be activated when operating in emergency status
• Exemptions that exist for emergency vehicles under Minnesota’s traffic code
• Training requirements 

The policy developed by LMCIT does not encompass the mandatory statewide policy governing the conduct of peace officers who are in pursuit of a vehicle that is being operated by someone who is fleeing a police officer. Agencies can find a model policy and more information about that requirement through the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and at Minn. Stat. § 626.8458, subd. 3. 

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful.

Tracy 

Applications Open for the Firefighter Turnout Gear Washer/Extractor 2023 Award Program

A guest post by LMCIT Public Safety Specialist Troy Walsh                                                   

Since 2015, the first year of the Turnout Gear Washer/Extractor Program, the Department of Public Safety has awarded more than $2.1 million to 265 Minnesota fire departments for the purchase of turnout gear washers/extractors and/or gear dryers. Individual awards will again be granted in amounts up to $10,000 for gear washer/extractors and up to $8,000 for gear dryers.

Apply by April 14

Applications are now available for the 2023-2024 firefighter washer/extractor award program. If you have any questions, please contact Nolan Pasell at (651) 201-7218. A complete application packet must be received by 4 p.m. Friday, April 14, preferably by email to nolan.pasell@state.mn.us. 

Download the application packet. 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at twalsh@lmc.org or (651) 281-1231. 

Remember:   Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay warm and be safe!

Troy