Thursday, December 16, 2021

Fire Chief Boot Camp Recap

Minnesota Board of Firefighter
Training and Education

A guest post by LMCIT Public Safety Specialist Troy Walsh

I was recently asked to attend and present at the second Fire Chief Boot Camp training program, developed by the fire service specialists at the State Fire Marshal’s Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The first Fire Chief Boot Camp was pre-COVID and was a well-attended success.

Fast forward to December 2021, which landed me at the new Grand Rapids Fire Station for the second boot camp featuring 14 presentations and 25 attendees representing 17 Minnesota fire departments. This fantastic course is what they called a “10,000 foot” look at the MN fire service for fire chiefs and those aspiring to be chief officers.

The training program focuses on the legal obligations, responsibilities, and resources available to help keep fire chiefs and their departments out of legal harm’s way.  All the courses at the Fire Chief Boot Camp are a brief look at what the fire department is involved in, what the fire chief is responsible for, and most of all who they can contact for support!

Some of Minnesota’s best were there to pass on their knowledge and help to the next generation of fire chiefs build successful departments and keep moving forward!

I was able to present on fire department management and liability issues. As fire service tech and equipment change to become safer, we as the fire service also need to update out administrative operations to understand liabilities and reduce the risk.

I shared the Fire Department Management and Liability Issues Memo as a resource for my presentation — it’s a guide of best practices for reducing those risks.  

Other great presentations included:

Upcoming training

Troy Walsh is the public works and public safety
specialist for the League of Minnesota Cities
Insurance Trust.

The next Fire Chief Boot Camp is going to be at the Albert Lea Fire Department on Feb. 18-19, 2022. Details can be found on the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE) website and you can contact Fire Service Specialist Jared Rozeboom at Jared.Rozeboom@state.mn.us for more information and details on how to be nominated by a fire chief or city/township supervisor to be part of this unique training program.

You can contact me via email at twalsh@lmc.org with any questions about this training or feel free to call (651) 281-1231.

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful.
 

                                                

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

New LMCIT Loss Control Program Coordinator

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) has hired Ashley Edwardson as the new loss control program coordinator. Her role will include overseeing the development, implementation, and ongoing success of the Peace officer Accredited TRaining OnLine (PATROL) program and the Regional Safety Group (RSG) program. 

Her position will also provide educational loss control information to member cities under 1,000 population in an effort to assist cities with injury prevention, worker safety, and general loss control. 

Ashley joined the League of Minnesota Cities in 2019 as an event coordinator in the engagement and learning department. Over the last two years she has worked with the LMCIT loss control workshops, city attorneys, mayors, and elected leaders of Minnesota cities. 

Loss Control Program Coordinator Ashley Edwardson in a black shirt smiles in a portrait taken against a white background.
Ashley Edwardson will be overseeing the PATROL
program and the Regional Safety Group program
as part of her duties. She will also be connecting
small cities with loss control information.
Prior to the League she worked in the private sector primarily with event planning, logistics, and sales. Ashley is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications.  

“I am honored to be taking on this position from Kristen LeRoy who will be retiring in March,” said Edwardson. “She can’t be replaced, but I will do my best to fill her shoes and continue to make PATROL the best online, accredited training for peace officers in Minnesota.” 

If you have any questions about PATROL or the Regional Safety Group (RSG) programs, you may contact Ashley at (651) 281-1258 or by email at aedwardson@lmc.org.

We welcome Ashley to the loss control team and look forward to working with her. As always, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or give me a phone call at (651) 215-4051 with any comments or questions.

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -

Tracy

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The MCPA ETI & Law Enforcement Expo 2021

ETI Executive Training Institute & Law Enforcement Expo. Accelerating the Evolution of Policing. Octover 2-November 2. River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud, Minnesota
The 2021 Executive Training Institute (ETI) & Law Enforcement Expo sponsored by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) was held in St. Cloud from Oct. 31-Nov. 3. With over 350 law enforcement leaders and over 100 exhibitors in attendance, it once again did not disappoint.

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association has a vision “to be the recognized voice for professional law enforcement in Minnesota” and a mission “to bring the highest quality police services to the people of Minnesota.”

With a theme of “Accelerating the Evolution of Policing,” the educational components of the conference included law enforcement presentations on key police topics by leaders from across the state and nation. These presentations included a case review of the “Ambush at Shady Oaks” by Director J.D. Carlson of the Albert Lea Police Department; “The Evolution of Police Response and Civil Unrest” by Commissioner John Harrington, Sheriff David Hutchinson and Colonel Matt Langer; the “Parkland Florida School Shooting” by Chief Tony Pustizzi; a review of the new “BCA Force Investigation Unit” by BCA Special Agent in Charge Scott Mueller; “Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing for First Responders” by  Account Manager Bobby Arnell and Director Steve Dickens of Invest EAP Centers for  Wellbeing; the “Jayme Closs Case Review” by Detective Jeffrey Nelson of the Barron County Sheriff's Department and Special Agent Joe Welsch of the Wisconsin Department of Justice; and many additional sessions on a variety of law enforcement topics.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by
to meet League staffers (l-r) Laura Honeck,
Ashley Edwardson, and Tracy Stille.
PATROL Online

The law enforcement expo was also a good opportunity to learn about the latest products and services for our police agencies to consider purchasing. The expo included vendors for police uniforms, two-way radio equipment, emergency vehicle upfitters, psychological employee fitness services, wireless communication systems, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) communications, access control and security systems, police audits, community surveys, police vehicles, and architecture firms to name but a few.

Once again this year, our LMCIT staff were on hand to explain the benefits and monthly continuing education courses of the PATROL - Peace officer Accredited Training Online program. Additionally, PATROL helps police agencies meet OSHA standards and also offers a five-part supervision and leadership course series.

Each PATROL course is also supported by legal memos, updates on developments, legal briefs, and case law changes. PATROL helps you achieve training mandates at a low cost and learn from professionals, including police liability experts, insurance defense attorneys, and local law enforcement leaders.

PATROL is supported by the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, and the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association. If you have any questions about PATROL or would like additional information about this unique training program, please contact our new Loss Control Program Coordinator Ashley Edwardson at the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) at (651) 281-1258, (218) 269-5352 or by email at aedwardson@lmc.org.

PTSD and mental health

LMCIT staff were also able to discuss the League’s PTSD and mental health initiatives. The Pocket Wellness Guide for law enforcement and information on talking with an employee that brings a mental health concern to you were both available as handouts that attendees could take back to their stations.

MCPA Officer of the Year

Officer of the Year, Arik Matson, Waseka Police Department

The 2021 awards banquet comprised many recognitions including president’s awards, medals of honor, distinguished service awards, a meritorious service Award, lifesaving awards, citizen’s valor awards, and Officer of the Year. A medal of honor and the Officer of the Year Award were presented to Officer Arik Matson of the Waseca Police Department whose “actions clearly distinguished himself above all others while serving with valor, honor, persistence, and merit.” Officer Matson was shot and critically injured in the line of duty on Jan. 6, 2020 while responding to a report of a suspicious person in the city of Waseca.

As always, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or give me a phone call at (651) 215-4051 with any comments or questions.

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety


In the meantime, stay safe and be careful - 


Tracy

Monday, October 18, 2021

The Mass Violence Advisory Initiative

The Mass Violence Advisory Initiative (MVAI) blue and gold shield logo. IACP and BJA
A shooting at a medical clinic in Buffalo this past February along with a mass shooting in St. Paul this month resulted in unfortunate casualties and made national news. These events can cause deep and long-lasting trauma to families, first responders, city officials, and community members.

These acts of mass violence also pose unique challenges for law enforcement leaders. For first responders and city leaders, responding to these incidents while operating under extreme pressure and public scrutiny may be one of the most difficult experiences of their careers.

The Department of Justice announced recently that it has started offering help to law enforcement leaders whose communities experience incidents of mass violence in their jurisdictions. The assistance, called the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative (MVAI), will involve peer-to-peer consultations and be funded by the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). 

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) will help manage the initiative, and the BJA/IACP Mass Violence Peer-to-Peer Advisory Team consists of law enforcement officials, public information officers, psychological services, as well as community and faith-based representatives who have responded to similar incidents in the past. The team will deploy to provide immediate and ongoing guidance at no cost to the community.

The IACP and BJA recognizes that due to the complex, unique, and urgent nature of these events, law enforcement leaders responding to mass violence incidents will benefit from the knowledge of other law enforcement personnel who have experienced a similar incident.

This initiative’s goals are to:

  • Help law enforcement leaders at the onset of a mass violence event to maximize the safety and wellness of the first responders and the community.
  • Advise first responders by sharing promising practices for communicating with community members and the media as well as connecting law enforcement leaders with local, state, and federal partners.
  • Address the mental wellbeing of victims, survivors, and responding agencies.
  • Provide access to specialized resources, such as guidebooks, checklists, and toolkits to assist them in the aftermath of an incident. 

The IACP has also compiled a list of resources that are available for communities to prepare for and respond to incidents of mass violence. These resources include a toolkit for enhancing law enforcement response to children exposed to violence, an emergency preparedness toolkit for families and agencies, a police-mental health collaboration toolkit, and a guide on how to help first responders build resilience and recover from incidents of mass violence.

If you have any questions or comments about this new initiative, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or give me a phone call at (651) 215-4051.

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -

Tracy

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month -Officer Down Memorial Podcast

The Officer Down Memorial Podcast recently
addressed the topic of suicide & suicide prevention.
 September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. This month and every month it’s important to focus on our public safety personnel's mental health. It is also important to provide all survivors and co-workers of public safety personnel who die by suicide with enduring support. 

Minnesota “Radio Broadcaster Turned Sheriff” Scott Rose has created OfficerDownMemorialPodcast.com to honor officers who have given their lives in service. Sheriff Rose has repeatedly talked about the importance of honoring the fallen, including those officers who have lost their lives by suicide. 

Sheriff Scott Rose
Sheriff Rose is the current sheriff of Dodge County in Minnesota. He started his career as a volunteer with the Sheriff’s Posse in 1996 and as a police officer with the Kasson Police Department in 1998. He started working full-time with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 and was elected sheriff in 2015.

According to a recent episode, Sheriff Rose explains that the goal of the podcast is to honor our fallen heroes, help us remember their service, remind us we must always support the families left behind, and to never forget their sacrifice. He emphasizes it is important to provide respect and dignity to the families of our fallen heroes.

In each episode of the Officer Down Memorial Podcast, Sheriff Rose shares the stories of how these men and women lost their lives in the line of duty. These podcasts are produced in a storytelling format sharing these officer's stories based on input from the men and women who served with them, and the families who were left behind. Older stories are written using historical documents and newspaper records.

The most recent episode is the story of Sergeant Cory Slifko, a 20-year veteran from the South Saint Paul Police Department, which is the podcast’s first officer-down story by suicide. 

Past episodes have told the stories of officers Jack Werner, Shawn Schneider, Greg Lange, John Schneider, Jason Meyer, and Matthew Hamilton to name but a few.

Suicide prevention and awareness resources

Sheriff Rose also recently completed podcasts focusing on suicide prevention and awareness, sharing information about organizations that are there to help our first responders (veterans, police, fire, EMT, front-line medical staff, corrections, and dispatch) and their families relating to mental health, PTSD, and suicide issues. These organizations included the Invisible Wounds Project, Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation, and 1st H.E.L.P. (Blue H.E.L.P. and Red H.E.L.P.) which provide resources and treatment to our first responders that are confidential, without charge, and without judgement.

You can listen to current or past episodes of the Officer Down Memorial Podcast on your podcast app or stream episodes on the website at OfficerDownMemorialPodcast.com.

 The League of Minnesota Cities has also developed a PTSD and Mental Health Toolkit to help our members address issues of public safety mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The toolkit has resources on talking about mental health, programs, HR considerations, wellness and more.

View the PTSD and Mental Health Toolkit on the League’s website here.

If you have any questions or comments, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or give me a phone call at (651) 215-4051. 

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -

Tracy


Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Strategies for Managing Police Fatigue

Police fatigue has always been a leading concern within the profession, as it has been in related shift-work occupations like emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nursing, and the military.

Typically, fatigue is caused by staying awake too long or lacking quality sleep over time. When fatigued, workers experience mental or physical exhaustion, which leads to the inability to function and perform normal tasks. Acute fatigue — or fatigue that is linked to a lack of adequate sleep — can easily be managed with rest and relaxation. Chronic fatigue, on the other hand, is fatigue that is described as severe and constant tiredness, which is harder to manage.

OSHA generally recommends that managers limit extended shifts and limit the number of days that employees work as a means to manage fatigue. High-stress work environments, such as policing, will also increase the likelihood of workplace fatigue as police officers are exposed to challenging conditions, traumatic circumstances, and shift work. Supervisors need to promote workplace wellness by re-establishing energy through promoting exercise, stress management, proper eating habits, and sleep — the foundational component of health and wellness. 

Recently I attended a free webinar hosted by the Justice Clearinghouse and presented by Dr. Lois James. Dr. James is an assistant professor in the Washington State University (WSU) College of Nursing and the Sleep and Performance Research Center. She has been internationally recognized for her work and research focused on bias, stress, sleep, and performance in “high stress” occupations, including law enforcement.

I found the sleep deprivation presentation extremely interesting and engaging, as it covered the consequences and impacts of sleep deprivation on the day-to-day work that police officers do regularly, including:

  • Reduced perspective, understanding, and ability to self-monitor.
  • Impaired decision-making due to narrowed perception — particularly during stressful situations.
  • Worsened mood and greater likelihood for anxiety, irritability, fearfulness, or hostility. 
  • As a causal factor for officer-involved vehicle collisions in fairly optimal driving conditions and even simulations.
  • Greater likelihood to demonstrate implicit bias, use force, and fire their service weapon.
  • Less likelihood to utilize de-escalation techniques.
  • Long-term and cumulative effects which manifests as physical conditions, chronic illnesses, sleep disorders, and psychological conditions such as depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, suicide, and family dysfunction. 

The presentation included a rundown of the strategies to employ to prevent and counter the effects of sleep deprivation and fatigue in policing, including: 

  • Recognizing that there is a benefit to nutrition, fitness, and stress management measures for holistic health and wellness if it is backed by good quality sleep.
  • Understanding the science of sleep and how concepts like its phases and circadian rhythm can be maximized to significantly impact the quality of sleep.
  • Practicing sleep hygiene that ensures one gets the best quality of sleep by creating the ideal sleep routine, environment, and headspace.
  • Getting screened for sleep disorders and identifying tools and methods that can be used against these disorders.
  • Learning the art of napping — taking into account the length of the nap and the time of the day to best take it.
  • Monitoring one’s own fatigue and sleep levels and trends.
  • Implementing smart shift scheduling that considers the science of sleep concepts, shift length, and providing enough time to rest in between shifts.

Various studies — including The Shift Length Experiment conducted by the National Police Foundation — have found trends in sleep quantity and quality related to shift length, particularly when comparing the 8-, 10- and 12-hour shift lengths and working overtime. The number of hours per shift and the risk of injury have a direct relationship, as the potential for on-the-job injuries increase as the shift length increases. This study found that officers are more likely to have increased safety and wellness associated with increased sleep while maximizing alertness on the job. 

Dr. James studied how sleep disruption due to shift work leads to operational performance issues, such as difficult decision-making, a narrowing of the understanding and reaction of what is going on around us, the effect on alertness and motor skills, an increase in anxiety, fearfulness, irritability and hostility (which can lead to conflict at home and in the workplace), and finally an increased risk for serious health issues, ranging from certain cancers to cardiovascular disease, obesity, sleep disorders, and mental health concerns. 

Police fatigue is a serious concern in public safety, and most police agencies do not take the appropriate steps to reduce the impact of fatigue, which include both the physical and mental health conditions that can result from a lack of sleep. All officers and their agencies need to take steps to recognize and address it. The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust has also developed a PTSD and Mental Health Toolkit to help our members address issues of public safety mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

I also encourage you to browse the upcoming free webinars at the Justice Clearinghouse, which offers a unique peer-to-peer educational environment that addresses the many challenges affecting our justice and public safety professions. 

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

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -
Tracy


Monday, August 2, 2021

Force Science Institute - Realistic De-Escalation Training

De-escalation has been one of the most talked-about topics in law enforcement, the media, and in legal and political circles. During this era of police reform, de-escalation is also one of many hot topics that is being discussed and highly embraced by law enforcement professionals and the community.  

As with many issues in law enforcement, the entire concept of de-escalation and use of force is complex. Every day, law enforcement officers across Minnesota and the nation deal with challenging encounters on the job. Most of these incidents result in successful and peaceful non-forceful resolutions, although some don’t always go smoothly — especially when dealing with a combative and uncooperative individual. 

As a police officer for many years, I can attest that police officers would like to avoid the need to use force whenever possible, although there are times when force is necessary to resolve a situation and avoid escalation of an incident that could lead to a dangerous outcome, including a critical incident.  

This fall, the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) is sponsoring a workshop developed by the Force Science Institute that will teach you how best to handle these critical situations — while keeping both officers and the public safe. 

The course will cover many aspects of human psychology, police tactics and techniques, and negotiation strategies, some of which will include:

  • Understanding what de-escalation actually means and when it’s effective.
  • Quickly determining whether de-escalation efforts are reasonable, practical, and likely to be successful.
  • Efficiently recognizing whether a subject is in conflict or crisis — and which strategies will be most effective to defuse the situation.
  • Better ensuring your approach and control strategies, maximize response options, and minimize unnecessary escalation.
  • Debunking myths about de-escalation that may jeopardize officer or citizen safety.
  • Enhancing your ability to make a connection, establish rapport, and apply effective principles of persuasion.

Registration

The registration for this workshop is now open and has been approved for eight total POST credits. Officers will earn four hours of conflict management/mediation credits and four hours of crisis intervention credits.

This workshop will be held at two locations, so mark your calendars now for either of the below dates and places. The course fee has been reduced to $50 for LMCIT members.

Oct. 8 — South Metro Public Training Facility, Edina

Oct. 11 — Hero Training Center, Cottage Grove

You can find additional information here, and you can direct any registration questions to Event Coordinator Ashley Nelson at (651) 281-1258. 

If you have any questions about the content of this training opportunity, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051.

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -
Tracy

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

The National Decertification Index (NDI)

It is important for those people that are in a position of authority to have the trust and respect of the community they serve. This applies to all professions, even those with very selective and rigorous hiring standards such as law enforcement, lawyers, health care professionals, and teachers.  

Many police agencies deal with the misconduct of their officers — which can result in dismissal or removal from their police agencies, and ultimately the revocation of their police officer’s license or certificate, when the officer has engaged in serious misconduct. 

Currently, 46 of the 50 states provide for the revocation or decertification of a peace officer’s license or certificate when the officer has engaged in serious misconduct. The Minnesota Police Officers Standards and Training Board (POST) is responsible for the decertification of Minnesota peace officers.

The grounds for decertification vary greatly among the states, though typically include a conviction for a felony, such as murder, stalking, criminal sexual conduct, and theft, as well as specific areas of misconduct. MN Administrative Rule 6700.1600 outlines the Minnesota peace officer standards of conduct that could lead to disciplinary action by the Minnesota POST Board. 

The National Decertification Index (NDI) is a nationwide registry of law enforcement and corrections officer certificate or license revocation actions relating to misconduct. The information is provided via a secure internet-accessible platform developed and hosted by Envisage Technologies and maintained by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). 

The NDI is a free service to law enforcement and currently contains over 30,500 actions. The database does not contain specific information about the decertification but does refer the person seeking information to the state POST that decertified him or her. Also, the fact that there is a decertification does not mean that the candidate is ineligible to be a peace officer in another state with less restrictive standards of conduct. The Minnesota POST Board has currently decertified 89 peace officers since 2000, and those revocations can be accessed here.

Know Who You Are Hiring

A thorough background investigation (including contacting former employers before hiring an employee) is very crucial — especially when hiring law enforcement officers — due to their positional authority and powers that police officers have over citizens. A standard query with the NDI, conducted as part of a city's conditional job offer, will let the background investigator or hiring authority know whether a potential employee has been decertified by a state licensing agency. 

There have been cases where cities have not been fully aware of the past misconduct of their applicants, who are then hired due to a weak background check process. With continued discussions of national police reform, both the public and lawmakers tend to agree that the police need a national standard for decertification — and law enforcement agencies are seeing increased pressure to provide transparency about misconduct in law enforcement. 

The NDI may prevent officers with a revoked certification — as a result of serious or gross misconduct — from being rehired, even if they move to a new state. I encourage police departments across Minnesota to spread awareness to other agencies and to take advantage of this free resource. 

A police department or authorized individual may request access to the NDI here, and the access is subject to approval by the Minnesota POST Board administrator. 

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

Remember:  Responder Safety = Public Safety

Stay safe and be careful -
Tracy

Thursday, June 24, 2021

June is PTSD Awareness Month – The Power of Purpose and Healing

A guest post by Public Safety Program Coordinator Lora Setter

For those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), having purpose aids in recovery. People that dedicate their lives to public safety are often called to it, wanting to be a part of something that is bigger than themselves. Treatment professionals recommend that for those who suffer from PTSD it’s important for them to keep working so they can benefit from “the power of purpose.” 

For some, to keep working might mean having different job duties for a time or having a modified work schedule. It definitely means being in a highly supportive culture where emotional well-being is paramount.

You can find information about helping staff to keep working or getting them back to work in the Creating Supportive Work Environments section of the PTSD and Mental Health Toolkit

I recently participated in two trainings that can help to promote cultures of emotional well-being. “Shield of Resilience” from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) is a training for police officers and “MnFIRE Emotional Wellness Training” from the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) is a training for firefighters. Below is information about each:

Shield of Resilience Training Course
The Shield of Resilience Training is a free online training that takes about one hour to complete. It addresses the unique stressors that law enforcement officers are exposed to, as well as:

  • How to recognize the signs and symptoms of acute and chronic stress, depression, and PTSD.
  • The signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation and how to talk with a fellow officer who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.
  • How to facilitate peer-to-peer behavioral health support.
  • The resources and support tools that help build resiliency.
  • Where to find help and support.

MnFIRE Emotional Wellness Training
MNFire’s Emotional Support Training is offered both online and in person. This course discusses how the stresses of being a firefighter can negatively impact mental health. It debunks the stigma that those who suffer from mental health injuries are weak. This class will help destigmatize talking about mental health in your department, as well as provide practical information around how to properly debrief after a difficult call with your team, ways to maintain emotional well-being, and resources available for those who need help.

In the next issue of Minnesota Cities magazine, League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director Dave Unmacht shares his thoughts about the importance of supporting employee well-being, and Jordan City Council Member Amanda Schuh writes about what city councils can do to support the mental health of public safety personnel in their communities. 

It’s been a tough time. Going forward, let’s work together to promote supportive cultures of emotional well-being for our public safety employees. Let’s find ways to help those suffering from PTSD to keep working, so that we can help them heal. 

Up next: The National Decertification Index (NDI)

In the meantime, be well -
Lora

Monday, June 21, 2021

Background Investigations and the Minnesota Human Rights Act

City police departments have access to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) criminal history information database for law enforcement duties. However, access to the database has also proven useful for other city functions — including access for city job applicants (for employment, volunteers, and independent contractors), liquor license applicants, and peddler license applicants. 

Cities must be aware that it is important for the city to access the data appropriately, determine whether the data is classified as private or public, and to understand what will and will not be provided in the way of criminal history information. It is also important to note, candidates for election to public office by the voters are not considered “applicants for employment.”

Under  Minn. Stat. § 299C.72, police departments are statutorily authorized to use the data for employment and certain license checks, although cities are required to receive the informed consent of the individual being investigated. Also, the criminal history data cannot be disseminated, and the data must be maintained securely in the police department (not by any other city department). The informed consent form should indicate that the person understands the background search may include a search of all public records and that the person consents to the search. 

Additionally, the police agency can only share whether there is a criminal history that would prevent the hire or issuance of a license to the appropriate decision-makers within the city. Ideally, the hiring authority has determined in advance which types of crimes will be disqualifying and conveyed that to the police department before the background check is done. The police department cannot conduct driver’s license checks for employment purposes, as their access to Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) data is restricted for “law enforcement purposes” only.

Minnesota Human Rights Act

The Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) under Minn. Stat. § 363A.08 subd. 4(1), states that no document which has date of birth, gender, or race information will be included in the information given to or available to any person who is involved in selecting the person or persons employed other than the background investigator. 

Also, no person may act as both background investigator and be involved in the selection of an employee except that the background investigator's report about background may be used in that selection as long as no direct or indirect references are made to the applicant's race, age, or gender. In other words, it could be an unfair discriminatory practice relating to employment for anyone that is involved in the selection process (police chief, city administrator/manager, human resources, or city council member, etc.) to also be involved as the background investigator. 

The League of Minnesota Cities has developed an informational memo and model policy to help cities comply with the provisions of this law and ensure the city has a well-considered process in place. 

Additionally, the Minnesota BCA performs statutorily required and discretionary criminal history record checks for a fee. A city may receive more information with which to make hiring decisions by going through the BCA, and the city will need to determine which statute applies in order to use the appropriate consent form and access the appropriate data through the BCA. 

Some of the statutorily required background checks include those completed:

  • for employment as a licensed police officer or for a position leading to employment as a licensed peace officer before the applicant may be employed (626.87)
  • by school hiring authorities (123B.03)
  • agencies that employ private security personnel (326.336)
  • organizations that work with children, the elderly, or disabled (Serve America Act)
  • rental property owners (including cities) who hire individuals to manage their property (299C.66 - 71)
  • fire department employees under 299F.035, and 
  • children service workers under the Child Protection Background Check Act (299C.60 - 64). 

Additional information about these statutorily-required background checks can be found here

The League also offers some great overview information on related background checks — including internet searches, social media checks, reference checks, and education verifications — in Chapter 2 of the HR Reference Manual (on hiring), which can be found here

If you have any questions, you may contact me at tstille@lmc.org or give me a call at (651) 215-4051.

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

Up next: June is PTSD Awareness Month – The Power of Purpose and Healing

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -
Tracy    


Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Move Over Laws and Responder Safety

A guest post by LMCIT Public Safety Specialist Troy Walsh

I am hoping that by now you are familiar with the Minnesota Ted Foss Move Over Law — M.S. 169.18 Subd. 11? These are specific laws that help stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated by requiring drivers to move over and leave an empty lane between their vehicle and emergency vehicles. This law was put in place to help protect Minnesota’s first responders while working on our roadways.

Laws and enforcement are not always the end-all of violations or violators because the public is more distracted today than ever. The state of Minnesota and lawmakers have worked for many years to make everyone safer on the roads, including first responders.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Move Over Laws and Responder Safety. Despite Move Over laws in every state, first responders remain at risk for being killed or injured by passing vehicles at roadside emergencies. 

In December 2020, the GAO reported to Congress on the impact of state Move Over laws. State officials cited raising public awareness as the most prevalent challenge, as motorists may not know the law exists or its specific requirements. Read the GAO's report here.


The U.S. Fire Administration and Public Education

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that 12% of on-duty firefighter fatalities occur each year while responding to or returning from incidents, with the majority of fatalities resulting from vehicle crashes. Vehicle collision is the second leading cause of firefighter fatalities.

How can we get better at educating the public about first responder safety? The Emergency Responder Safety Institute has some tools that your agency can use not only for internal staff training but for public education:

  • How to Safely Pass An Emergency Scene is a four-minute video that shows what drivers should do and should never do!
  • Responder Safety has videos and education materials about various subjects related to roadway incident safety that can be shared with the public.
  • Slow Down Move Over has more videos and best practices, and can act as a great public service announcement (PSA)!

The Emergency Responder Safety Institute also has tools for staff training, including a number of Roadway Safety Shorts training videos that illustrate key safety practices when responding to roadway incidents such as lane blocking, fire apparatus backing safety, and safe positioning for an ambulance at roadway incidents.  

Guest blogger Troy Walsh
Feel free to use the links above to get the word out to the public — include them in a city newsletter or play the videos at fire hall public events. 

Highway safety has always been an issue for first responders, and continuous public education and first responder training is critical in ensuring a safe scene!

If you have any questions, you may contact Troy at twalsh@lmc.org or give him a phone call at (651) 281-1231

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

Up next: Background Investigations and the Minnesota Human Rights Act

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful -
Troy