October 2023 Newsletter (Volume 9, Issue 10)
October 2023 Newsletter (Volume 9, Issue 10)
Please click on the title below to view each of the different stories in the newsletter.
Battle of the Badges 2023
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and Rochester Police Department won this year’s competition with a total of 152 points. Collectively, Olmsted County first responders provided 372 blood donations over the past three months, meaning up to 1,116 lives will be saved through this challenge! Local law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency services workers partner with the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program each year to further develop community relationships and awareness about donating blood and blood products.
Call 507-284-4475 today to schedule your blood donation appointment.
Corporal Andy Reinke
Chief Deputy James Schueller
With heavy hearts, our Sheriff’s Office family was shocked and saddened by the loss of one of our own while off duty on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. On that day, Detention Deputy Corporal Andrew “Andy” Reinke died unexpectedly at his home. Andy began in our office working in the Adult Detention Center (ADC) on January 7, 2008. Andy, who also held an active Minnesota Peace Officer’s license, had spent his career working in the ADC and was currently serving as a Corporal on B-Platoon. Andy also served on our Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) Board, most recently as the Vice President. Andy was greatly respected by all in our Office as well as by numerous other agencies in the Law Enforcement community. Andy’s commitment to the Sheriff’s Office, the DSA, his friends and most importantly his family were an inspiration to those that were lucky enough to know him. Andy touched many lives in his short time with us. He will be deeply missed. We will hold Andy, his wife, young children, and his family and friends in our hearts and minds forever.
Sheriff’s Office Fleet Mechanics Keep the Sheriff’s Office Mobile
Captain Ryan Mangan
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office has two mechanics, Josh Morris and Shane Yohe. They have a combined total of 47 years of mechanic experience that they bring to the Sheriff’s Office fleet maintenance and squad upfitting program. Our mechanics manage and maintain over 100 fleet vehicles including fully marked law enforcement squads, investigator vehicles, support vehicles, admin vehicles, boats, off-highway vehicles and generators. Josh and Shane both maintain the vehicles in our fleet, they build new squads, and strip down vehicles that are out of service, and prepare them to sell. A squad will typically be in service for five years.
Maintenance – The mechanics perform preventative maintenance including but not limited to oil changes, tire rotations/changes, replace brakes, other fluid changes, and most mechanical repairs. They troubleshoot and repair emergency vehicle equipment, and diagnose and repair vehicle-specific mechanical and electrical issues. The mechanics perform maintenance mainly at their shop located at the Government Center and sometimes in the field if an unexpected repair is needed while a deputy is working.
Squad upfitting – We receive a “squad” as an unequipped vehicle. The equipment to build the squad is either repurposed from a prior squad build or new equipment is ordered when needed. The squad is built by adding the necessary equipment including lights, sirens, 800 mhz radio, mobile computer terminal, GPS, cameras, ALPRs (automatic license plate readers), citation printers, K9 kennels and temperature monitoring systems, prisoner transport partitions and the additional electrical components to run the equipment. Most of the squad upfitting is performed at the “south shop”, which is located at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds. Currently, we have six new Tahoes that arrived in July/August that are being equipped to be fully marked squad cars. A typical squad build can take 40-50 work hours. This is a significant cost savings by doing this in-house and also allows the mechanics the in-depth knowledge of the equipment in the squad cars. Other duties include overall monitoring of our fleet of vehicles, scheduling vehicles for warranty repairs or other outsourced services and monitoring parts inventory and ordering parts as needed.
Our mechanics hold a unique position in that they work closely with law enforcement personnel daily. Their position requires them to be trustworthy as they maintain a valuable tool for the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies have a lot of faith and trust in the work that our mechanics do and that has never been questioned. Josh and Shane are a valuable part of our Sheriff’s Office team and their contribution to the Sheriff’s Office is immeasurable. Without them, the fleet would not be up to the high level it is. We appreciate their work to aid us in providing a high level of public safety in Olmsted County.
MSA Detention Deputy of the Year Awarded to Tiffany Howlett
Chief Deputy James Schueller
Congratulations to Detention Deputy Tiffany Howlett for earning the 2023 Minnesota Sheriffs' Association (MSA) Correctional Officer/Detention Deputy of the Year Award!
The MSA Jail Administrators Committee selected Howlett after being nominated by Detention Sgt. Ted Maeder. In his nomination, Sgt. Maeder wrote: “Tiffany encourages staff to treat everyone with respect and promote self-growth. She is part of our Developmentally Disabled Team, helping people with disabilities manage while incarcerated. She participates in Safe City Nights, Shop with a Cop, and Tip a Cop (working with Special Olympics athletes). Tiffany has been a Field Training Officer (FTO) for 7 years, training both line staff in the housing units and in her current assignment as a Court Security Deputy. Tiffany is a model Correctional Officer and a silent leader of our organization. She empowers others to improve themselves; she fosters teamwork, leads from the front, and listens and coaches others.” She earned the award for her exemplary service to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Olmsted County.
Are you pursuing a career in Law Enforcement?
The Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association (MSA) has established a scholarship fund to award up to twenty $2,000 scholarships to Minnesota Law Enforcement Students this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota and the MSA's Exhibitor Sustaining Scholarship Members. The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association Scholarship and Awards Committee will be awarding the scholarships by December 29, 2023. Please note that applications must be submitted to your Minnesota County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff by November 17, 2023. For Olmsted County Residents, mail or drop off your completed application to:
Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office
Attention: Sheriff Torgerson
101 4th Street SE
Rochester MN 55904-3718
Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories:
1. Mandated POST skills program
2. In the second year of a two-year law enforcement program
3. In the third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice course
Senior Administration
Sheriff
Kevin Torgerson
Chief Deputy—LEC
Brian Howard
Captains
Jon Jacobson
Kelly Lee
Ryan Mangan
Tim Parkin
Chris Wallace
Executive Assistant
Laura Collins
Chief Deputy—ADC
James Schueller
Captains
David Adams
Samantha Reps
Macey Tesmer
Dates of Interest
October 2
Oronoco Township Meeting
Pleasant Grove Township Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
October 3
Elmira Township Meeting
High Forest Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
October 4
Salem Township Meeting
October 5
Dover City Council Meeting
Quincy Township Meeting
October 9
Cascade Township Meeting
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Orion Township Meeting
Rock Dell Township Meeting
October 10
Byron City Council Meeting
Marion Township Meeting
New Haven Township Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
October 12
Eyota City Council Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting
October 16
Eyota Township Meeting
Kalmar Township Meeting
Oronoco City Council Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
October 17
Farmington Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
Pine Island City Council Meeting
October 18
Haverhill Township Meeting
October 23
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Viola Township Meeting
October 24
Byron City Council Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
October 26
Eyota City Council Meeting
Olmsted County Fire Meeting
Olmsted County Township Association Meeting
October 30
Dover Township Meeting