Sheriff's Office Newsletter - December 2022
Volume 8, Issue 12
December 2022 Newsletter (Volume 8, Issue 12)
Please click on the title below to view each of the different stories in the newsletter.
A Note from Sheriff Torgerson
Now that election season is behind us, I’d like to thank you all for the honor of serving you these past eight years and say that I’m looking forward to the next four years. It’s been a privilege working alongside the exceptional staff of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and we will continue to do our best to serve you.
I also want to thank our retiring County Commissioners Bier, Brown, Flynn and Podulke for their support over the years. I look forward to working with new Commissioners Mueller, Podulke-Smith, Rossman and Senjem as they join the Board in the upcoming year.
A Scary Halloween
Captain Jon Jacobson
On October 31, 2022, Olmsted County and City of Rochester Emergency Management Divisions worked together to deliver a joint workshop simulating a 180-passenger commercial airline crash near the Rochester International Airport (RST). With airline growth and frequency at RST, the larger capacity airplanes flying in and out have altered the possibility of a disaster of this type in Olmsted County. Emergency Management staff from Olmsted County and Rochester, along with RST International Airport emergency response personnel, focus on preparedness for all types of emergencies and disasters and even perform full-scale exercises for smaller, 40-passenger airliners, which is the most common to fly in and out of RST. With additional, and larger aircraft now operating there, we had to change our preparedness goals and continue to work with our partners at RST, Southeastern Regional Medical Examiners Office, Commercial Airlines, National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Mayo Clinic, local Law Enforcement, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, American Red Cross and Regional 1 Emergency Management officials.
More than 100 people participated, including City of Rochester and Olmsted County Administration, Department Directors and Associate Directors and other designated staff that may serve in an Incident Command or Emergency Operations Center role during an event like this. Why would Olmsted County be involved in an emergency like this? A crash of this magnitude would affect more than just the City of Rochester. Many of Olmsted County’s departments support, or are directly responsible for, services within the City of Rochester. This workshop was designed to get policy makers and high-level decision makers together in order to understand thought processes of other stakeholders that would have a hand in the initial response and recovery in a disaster such as this. Being able to provide resources for a disaster, whether that be on scene, at a Family Assistance Center, Reunification Center or in the Emergency Operations Center and maintain County business “as usual” is no small feat. Understanding the perspectives of others and the functional responsibilities of specific partners was an eye-opener to many. When we can begin to understand what others external to the County must or will do, we can sift through what responsibilities Olmsted County staff would have in a disaster like this, as well as keeping our daily operations in all departments functioning.
Due to the size of the event, we activated both City and County Emergency Operations Centers. Work to link our two EOCs together began weeks before the event to ensure seamless communication and participation. Through this exercise, we learned that we are capable of operating two separate EOCs with negligible communication issues. However, the more valuable lesson learned was that we can work together to support one another through any disaster, with many County staff present and participating at the City EOC. Valuable insights were gained from our Federal partners, the NTSB and FBI, as well as from the airlines. We addressed issues regarding media relations, overflow of capacity to handle mortuary services, family notification and reunification, hazardous materials response as a result of the crash and airport and traffic operations. At the end of the exercise, a participant stated, “I had no idea how involved my current role would be at the start of this. After hearing so much information and what everyone else would be doing, I realized I simply wasn’t prepared. I learned so much from this experience thanks to all those that provided their expertise, explanations and expectations.” Another stated, “It was great to see so many high-level people from both City and County working together. Having the Federal agencies here and involved was extremely beneficial, too. To be able to understand their role and that there was so much more to this than just a police, fire and ambulance response...it was surprising to learn just how involved other City and County departments will be in dealing with an incident like this.”
There were no tricks in this exercise. Just an opportunity to engage in conversation, learn and problem solve during the discussion breakouts. And it really was a treat being part of it. Kyle Mirehouse, City EM Director, and I sincerely hope that those who participated gleaned valuable information and will take what they learned and continue to refine their preparation and knowledge of our Emergency Operations Plans and their respective department’s continuity of operations plans.
Get Ready for the 2023 Polar Plunge!
The 2023 Rochester Polar Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, February 11th. The Plunge is sponsored by Minnesota Law Enforcement to benefit Special Olympics. This is the 20th Annual Plunge that has seen more than 11,000 plungers raise over $3 million dollars.
Beginning at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 10th the Rochester Plunge Super Plungers will begin their quest to plunge 24 times in 24 hours. They will complete their 24th plunge to kickoff the mass of plungers at Noon on Saturday.
Please support the plunge by registering or pledging your favorite plunger.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
A big thank you to staff and family members who joined in to help ring the bell for the Salvation Army this year!
Our team spent the day at Hy-Vee spreading cheer and accepting donations for the kettle. The money raised will help meet needs in Olmsted County. Each dollar is used locally to support different programs and services of the Rochester Salvation Army.
Adult Detention and Law Enforcement Staff raised $2,291.65 for the day (up 40% from last year’s $1,521.47)! THANK YOU for your donations!!!
Watch for even more good deeds by our staff throughout the holiday season in the January edition!
Monthly Snapshot: Emergency Operations Center Use
Captain Jon Jacobson
|
Emergency Operations Center Use: |
2022 | 2021 |
|
Partial Activation for Weather Operations *includes Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Watches and Warnings |
13 | 8 |
|
Full Activation for Exercise |
1 | 1 |
|
Full Activation for Disaster (December 15, 2021) |
0 | 1 |
|
Activations for Training/Meetings |
63 | 28 |
Dates of Interest
December 1
Dover City Council Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
December 5
Oronoco Township Meeting
Pleasant Grove Township Meeting
Quincy Township Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
December 6
Elmira Township Meeting
High Forest Township Meeting
December 7
Salem Township Meeting
December 8
Eyota City Council Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting
December 12
Cascade Township Meeting
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Orion Township Meeting
Rock Dell Township Meeting
December 13
Byron City Council Meeting
Marion Township Meeting
New Haven Township Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
December 19
Eyota Township Meeting
Kalmar Township Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
December 20
Farmington Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
Oronoco City Council Meeting
Pine Island City Council Meeting
December 21
Haverhill Township Meeting
December 22
Eyota City Council Meeting
Olmsted County Fire Meeting
Olmsted County Township Association Meeting
December 26
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Dover Township Meeting
Viola Township Meeting
December 27
Byron City Council Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
Senior Administration
Sheriff
Kevin Torgerson
Chief Deputy—LEC
Terry Waletzki
Captains
Mike Bromberg
Jon Jacobson
Tim Parkin
James Schueller
Chris Wallace
Executive Assistant
Laura Collins
Chief Deputy—ADC
Brian Howard
Captains
David Adams
Samantha Reps
Macey Tesmer