March 2024 Newsletter (Volume 10, Issue 3)
March 2024 Newsletter (Volume 10, Issue 3)
Please click on the title below to view each of the different stories in the newsletter.
A Note from Sheriff Torgerson
So much has happened in the last month and certainly the last week that has captured all of our attention. In the last month our deputies and staff continue serving our communities with pride, integrity and compassion. The Stewartville Community Awareness Night was another prime example how we lean on our partners and the look at every facet of what we do to serve and support our communities, especially our kids.
Fast forward to the last two weeks. Our state and country have been captivated by the sudden loss of Officers Ruge and Elmstrand and Firefighter Finseth. Finseth and Ruge grew up and have numerous family members in or area. The heartbreaking incident moved thousands to attend several memorial programs and vigils. All of public safety continues to serve during these difficult times; and one day later all who attended are getting back in that uniform, trusting their partners and their training to do the best they can in any moment to serve our communities. The amount of support from all of our communities across Minnesota and the country has been a huge lift for all of us. Our professionals serve and protect as a life mission or shall I say, a calling. They did it today and will do it again tomorrow.
To our communities, thank you for the outpouring of support. Your appreciation of our work means a lot to every one of us. As I heard an old crafty military veteran once say when he was told by a community member they appreciated his military service, he responded, “You were worth it!” And I say to all of you, we serve you, because you are worth it, and we are proud to be your Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. May God bless us all. Thank you.
Drug Influence Evaluation Program
Sergeant Nick Jacobson
The Drug Influence Evaluation Program, or DRE Program, is a national certification providing law enforcement with the experience to document drivers that are under the influence of substances other than or in addition to alcohol. The DRE program was established in the 1970’s when law enforcement partnered with medical professionals to identify what signs and symptoms can be measured during the investigation of a possible impaired driving incident. All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and the territory of Guam, are participating in the program in the United States in addition to officers in Canada and the United Kingdom. The DRE Program is overseen by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and each state has a DRE coordinator responsible for training and records management for the program.
To be a certified DRE, officers are accepted to the course after filing an application that details their involvement with impaired driving investigations during their career.
Phase One is the 16-hour DRE Pre-school, which includes an overview of the DRE evaluation procedures, the seven drug categories, eye examinations and proficiency in conducting Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.
Phase Two is the 56-hour DRE School which includes an overview of the drug evaluation procedures, expanded sessions on each drug category, drug combinations, examination of vital signs, case preparation, courtroom testimony, and Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) preparation. At the conclusion of the 7-days of training, the officer must successfully complete a written examination before moving to the third and final phase of training.
During phase three the candidate DRE must complete a minimum of 12 drug evaluations under the supervision of a trained DRE instructor. Of those 12 evaluations, the officer must identify an individual under the influence of at least three of the seven drug categories and obtain a minimum 75% toxicological corroboration rate. The officer must then pass a final knowledge examination and be approved by two DRE instructors before being certified as a DRE.
Recertification is conducted annually involving two evaluations observed by a DRE instructor and a minimum of 8 hours continuing education.
Minnesota’s DRE program also includes a state Law Enforcement Phlebotomy Program which trains officers to collect blood samples in impaired driving investigations. That qualification is obtained by attending a week of specialized instruction at the Dakota County Technical College and completing clinical training at participating medical facilities in Minnesota. Phlebotomists requalify each year through the Dakota County Technical College.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office currently has 6 certified DRE’s and 8 phlebotomists to serve the investigative needs of the office. Deputy DRE’s also frequently partner with other agencies and assist with drug influence evaluations and chemical test collections in situations where suspected impaired drivers are brought to the Mayo Clinic for emergency medical treatment.
The goal of the DRE program is to promote traffic safety by way of thorough investigation into suspected impaired driving incidents. Olmsted County is well represented by those officers, troopers and deputies that have dedicated their professional careers to making our roads safer for everyone.
Sign and Release Warrants
Sergeant Mark Chambers
Beginning January 1, 2024, all Minnesota counties were required to implement a process for sign and release warrants pursuant to Minn. Stat. 629.415. These warrants are used in non-targeted misdemeanor and certain gross misdemeanor cases (theft, driving after revocation and trespassing are some examples).
Sign and Release warrants are issued if:
- the defendant is charged with a misdemeanor other than a targeted misdemeanor, or with a gross misdemeanor other than those excluded in the statute;
- the court mailed a summons that was returned as undeliverable;
- the defendant fails to appear; and
- the defendant had not previously failed to appear in the case.
Law enforcement cannot arrest a defendant solely based on a sign and release warrant. Law enforcement is required to obtain an updated address from the warrant subject and fill out a sign and release form that will provide the defendant with a new court date, the defendant is then released. A sign and release warrant can only be issued one time per case. The OCSO Civil/Warrants division had to implement a brand-new process to accommodate the sign and release warrants process. There were numerous meetings and hours spent working collaboratively with RPD/OCSO dispatch, MN Courts, Olmsted County Attorney’s office, to refine a working process for the sign and release warrants. As of February 15, 2024, the OCSO Civil/Warrants division has received and processed 13 sign and release warrants.
Monthly Snapshot: Polar Plunge
Sergeant Mark Chambers
February 10th was the annual Polar Plunge! The Polar Plunge is the biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota. All funds raised by Plungers help Special Olympics Minnesota provide year-round training and services to thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state. The Polar Plunge is presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a movement of volunteers dedicated to increasing awareness and funds for Special Olympics Minnesota athletes across the state.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) team increased their numbers this year with 24 members of the OCSO participating in the event.
| 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Plungers | 21 | 24 |
| Money Raised | $15,066 | $15,379 |
The 2024 Rochester Polar Plunge was another great show of community and Law Enforcement working together for a great cause. This year the Rochester Polar Plunge raised over $286,567 with 958+ participants that showed up to jump in a somewhat frozen lake for the Special Olympics athletes across the state! This takes us to over $4.2 million in our Rochester Plunge history since 2002. Thank you to all of our sponsors and plungers!
Dates of Interest
March 1
Dover City Council Meeting
March 5
Elmira Township Meeting
High Forest Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
March 6
Byron Community Awareness Night
March 7
Eyota City Council Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting
March 11
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Orion Township Meeting
Rock Dell Township Meeting
March 12
Byron City Council Meeting
Marion Township Meeting
New Haven Township Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
March 14
Eyota City Council Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting
March 18
Eyota Township Meeting
Kalmar Township Meeting
Oronoco City Council Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
March 19
Farmington Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
Pine Island City Council Meeting
March 20
Haverhill Township Meeting
March 25
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Viola Township Meeting
March 26
Byron City Council Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
March 27
Dover-Eyota Community Awareness Night
March 28
Dover Township Meeting
Eyota City Council Meeting
Olmsted County Fire Meeting
Olmsted County Township Association Meeting
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