Walnut Grove Fire Department Receives an OSHA Grant

 A guest post by LMCIT Loss Control Field Consultant Troy Walsh

Did you know that Minnesota OSHA grants will help with fire department personal protective equipment (PPE)?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets standards, and the NFPA 1851 Standard discusses the 10-year life cycle of firefighter PPE. The full title of the standard is NFPA 1851 – Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. 

The City of Walnut Grove Fire Department has been working towards updating some of its current PPE that is beyond its 10-year life. The fire department developed a list of all the PPE that needed to be within the 10-year replacement period. Turnout gear including helmets, self-contained breathing apparatus hoods, coats, pants, boots, and gloves were all inventoried and inspected as to their safe operating condition.  

The department found that 22 of their 25 helmets, 16 of their 25 pairs of boots, and two full sets of turnout gear (coats & pants) were expired. These are not cheap items in these quantities, and the cost doesn’t always fit into the annual budget. The department started to look at funding options and found that Minnesota OSHA has a 50/50 Grant Program that would include firefighter PPE: 

Workplace Safety and Health Safety Grant Program 

Guest blogger Troy Walsh

The Walnut Grove Fire Department applied and was awarded a 50/50 matching grant from Minnesota OSHA. The department now has a list of items that need to be replaced to ensure that the firefighter PPE follows the 10-year life cycle standard. The fire department has also looked at potentially adding additional funds to the annual budget to replace PPE on a yearly basis to ensure that they are cycling PPE out prior to the 10-year life expiration. 

Congratulations to the Walnut Grove Fire Department on their Minnesota OSHA Safety Grant!

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

Up next: Body-Worn Camera Audits

Stay safe,
Troy

2021 PATROL Updates

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust’s (LMCIT’s) PATROL online training for law enforcement remains a popular place for officers to earn credits that meet both continuing education requirements and industry mandates. Some stats:

• There are over 7500 users currently utilizing PATROL.
• In 2020, PATROL users completed a total of 145,455 courses.
• PATROL submitted 133,638 credits to POST in 2020.

There have been some updates for 2021 we wanted to make sure you knew (all of which you can view when you log in to PATROL):

Use of Force Courses Re-Released

Due to several legal changes that need to be covered for the use of force, the format has changed for these courses. The new Use of Force Parts 1 and 2 – Law and Principles (which are now available) have replaced Use of Deadly Force and Use of Force Legal Issues previously on the PATROL Training Plan. 

For 2021, officers will need to complete both Part 1 and Part 2 to fulfill the POST in-service learning objectives for use of force and deadly force (Part 3 covers Force Readiness and was just released last week). As always, each course will continue to qualify for one POST continuing education credit.    

Use of Force Part 1: Law and Principles 

The purpose of this course is to help you understand the legal rules and law enforcement principles that should guide your decision about using force.  

Use of Force Part 2: Laws and Principles 

The purpose of this course is to help you understand the legal rules and law enforcement principles that should guide your decisions about using force and deadly force.     

Parts 1 and 2 of this series provide the training specified under the following POST learning objectives: In-Service Use of Force Learning Objectives A(1), (3) – (6), and (8).  

Use of Force Part 3: Readiness 

This course helps you prepare to achieve optimal performance under high-stress circumstances, and to recognize and appropriately deal with critical incident trauma. 

This course covers POST In-Service Use of Force Learning Objectives B(1), (2), and (4).

True North Constitutional Policing Now Available

Based on the principles of the Constitution and filled with interactive scenarios and videos, True North Constitutional Policing is an excellent course. You can find it on the Welcome Page in PATROL under the True North Constitutional Policing tab. 

The Minnesota POST Board has approved this training for five (5) credit hours, in partial satisfaction of the requirements of Minn. Stat. § 626.8469, relating to the following learning objectives: Recognizing and Valuing Community Diversity and Cultural Differences to Include Implicit Bias Training: Objectives 1, 2, and 3 inclusive; and Conflict Management and Mediation: Objectives 1(A) and (B); 2(C) and (D), and 3(D).

New Customization for Agency Requirements

PATROL now includes a new feature called Agency Requirements. This optional feature allows your agency to list the courses your officers are required to take — as well as the deadlines to have them completed. Only the users within your department can see these requirements. 

Reports for the required courses will be pre-built and available for your agency to make verifying officers’ completions fast and easy. If you’re interested in utilizing this customization, please contact PATROL Program Manager Kris LeRoy at kleroy@lmc.org.

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

Up next: Walnut Grove Fire Department Receives an OSHA Grant

Stay safe,
Tracy

Introducing Tracy Stille: LMCIT's New Public Safety Project Coordinator

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) has selected Tracy Stille as their new public safety project coordinator following the recent retirement of Rob Boe. 

Tracy’s position focuses on risk management. He works with LMCIT’s loss control staff on monitoring and understanding the causes of public safety losses, developing new programs and trainings, sharing best practices to help reduce losses, and recommending new efforts and technological developments to keep public safety workers safe on the job and reduce liabilities. 

Tracy has worked for nearly 40 years in Minnesota public safety. He started his career as a law enforcement cadet in Hibbing in 1981. Initially hired by the Brownton Police Department, he also worked part time for several police departments in McLeod and Sibley Counties. Tracy was also a special deputy with the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office. He was then hired by the Maple Grove Police Department in Hennepin County, where he served in various positions throughout his career, including patrol officer, investigator, patrol sergeant, sergeant of investigations, services captain, and patrol captain. He is also a certified emergency manager with the State of Minnesota.

Tracy received his associate degree in law enforcement from Hibbing Community College, a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Mankato State University, and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from St. Cloud State University, where he also taught criminal justice classes as an adjunct faculty member. He is also a graduate of the 212th session of the School of Police Staff and Command at the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.

Tracy has previously worked for the League as a public safety loss control consultant for the past six years. “I was able to work with Rob, and he taught me a lot about the League of Minnesota Cities, as well as introduced me to many of the law enforcement leaders and professionals throughout Minnesota (and really across the nation in other insurance risk pools),” said Tracy. 

“I know I have some big shoes to fill, as Rob brought many years of public safety experience, project ideas, and momentum to this position. I appreciate this new opportunity, and my goals are to continue to strengthen the programs and relationships that have already been established, address any challenges for our members, and contribute to the many new police reform efforts that are currently in progress,” he said.

You may contact Tracy via email at tstille@lmc.org with any public safety concerns or issues that arise, or feel free to call him at (651) 215-4051.

Remember: Responder Safety = Public Safety

Up next: 2021 PATROL Updates

In the meantime, stay safe and be careful.