Sheriff's Office Newsletter - August 2023 Volume 9, Issue 8
August 2023 Newsletter (Volume 9, Issue 8)
Please click on the title below to view each of the different stories in the newsletter.
Battle of the Badges
The Battle of the Badges will be coming to an end on August 31! As you see, Team Law Enforcement can use your help!
It’s easy to donate! Simply check in at the front desk at one of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center locations with the desired team name to ensure your blood donation is counted during the competition. The team with the highest number of points brought in wins bragging rights!
You can learn more at the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program website. Call 507-287-4475 to schedule your donation; to see hours and locations, visit the Mayo Clinic website.
The Law Enforcement Internship: Bridging the Gap
Sergeant Taylor Schoenfelder
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office has long understood the importance of maintaining a progressive and fully immersive law enforcement internship program. The field of law enforcement plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, safety, and order in our communities. Providing aspiring law enforcement professionals opportunities to gain practical experience, knowledge, and insight into modern law enforcement practices stands out as an invaluable pathway to bridge the gap between theoretical, concept-based learning and real-life application. During their internship with the Sheriff’s Office (Typically 480 hours), Interns spend time working alongside various disciplines within the Office including, Training, Patrol, Investigations, Emergency Management, Corrections, Court Security, Civil Process, and Warrant Services. Interns will also interact with agency partners including the County Attorney’s Office, District Court, Medical Examiner’s Office, and Community Corrections.
One of the most compelling aspects of a law enforcement internship is the unique exposure it provides to the real world of policing and the challenges faced by the communities we serve. While classroom learning and academic programs offer a strong foundation in concepts and principles, an internship complements this knowledge with hands-on experience. Interns get the chance to witness the day-to-day operations of law enforcement agencies, engage with experienced deputies, and observe how they handle various situations and challenges. This exposure not only enhances the interns' understanding of law enforcement practices and principles, but also enables them to develop a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the profession, gleaning an understanding of not only the “how”, but also the “why” that drives our commitment to service. By actively participating in the daily operations and facing real-life challenges, interns can assess if law enforcement aligns with their passions and strengths. This firsthand experience allows them to make informed decisions about their future career paths, ensuring that they embark on a profession that resonates with their values and aspirations.
The relationships established during a law enforcement internship are invaluable assets for ambitious law enforcement professionals. Interns can build a network of connections with experienced deputies, supervisors, and fellow interns. These connections may open doors to potential job opportunities and provide valuable references when seeking permanent positions within a law enforcement agency. Additionally, having access to mentors allows interns to receive guidance, support, and advice from seasoned professionals, which can be instrumental in their professional development.
This summer, the Sheriff’s Office brought on two interns that are currently working through their college programs, both aspiring for a career in law enforcement. Mackenzie Walters, a Stewartville native, is currently a senior at the University of Arizona’s Criminal Justice Program. Here is what Mackenzie has to say about her experience during her internship with the Sheriff’s Office.
“The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office internship has offered me incredible insight on what it is like to work in a law enforcement career. I have enjoyed being able to work amongst people who are so knowledgeable, hardworking, and dedicated to their profession. I learned how impactful communication is among not only your coworkers but also the responses you have to the calls you receive. Leaving a lasting impact on the people you help will not only allow them to trust law enforcement, but also look to OCSO for better insight on situations. I enjoyed being able to work in the different divisions the county has to offer and see all the different options you can be a part of when working here. Being able to work in different divisions helped to give me an idea on what my biggest interests are for my future career. The wide variety of people I interacted with within the departments allowed me to understand the different ways to interact with people in need, communication styles, and leadership skills. I found it interesting to work not only day but night shifts where you experience the different types of calls and how you respond to them. I really enjoyed being able to work alongside investigations and see how they interview someone, handle crime scenes, and determining what happened during an investigation. I found the autopsy I was able to sit in on to be one of the most intriguing parts of my time with OCSO. I am very thankful for the opportunities and community of people I was able to work alongside during my time with the Sheriff’s Office that will leave a lasting impact on myself and the future of my career."
Nathan Peterson, a Byron native, is a current Senior at Winona State University’s Criminal Justice Program. Here is what Nate has to say about his time with the Sheriff’s Office.
“I began my internship with OCSO at the end of May. My experience here began with a lesson from myself, that I continued to learn as my internship went on, which was adaptability. I had a broken ankle coming in, which my supervisors were adaptable with my schedule, the Deputies were adaptable with teaching me things, and I had to be adaptable to learn and be mobile with my internship. I was first scheduled with the Training Division where I learned the layout of both the LEC and EOC. Later that week I was taught about the Command Structure, and how that works within each division. This gave me a great general idea of how Patrol worked, to Investigations, to Government Center Security, and to Civil and Warrants. This was followed by a day with dispatch where I learned how calls worked, and how the notes were taken and transferred for calls.
As I was starting to be able to walk again from my injury, I also began to walk in my internship. All the things I had learned up to that point were given a first-person perspective. On my first day out of a boot, I was taken to SWAT training, where I learned some of the instances they would get involved. I also was shown how a day of training looked for them, and all the angles they prepare for. I continued with investigations, specifically The Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET). They walked me through building a case and how they gather information through a variety of ways including data analysis, technology, and surveillance. After all this build-up, I was finally allowed to run and went on my first search warrant. The VCET team showed me how they go about searching and pieced it together with how they built their warrant.
My last couple of weeks I got to go out on patrol and each of the Deputies walked me through every stop and call we were involved. This has included speeding citations and DWIs and why traffic safety is so important, and even suspicious activity at a cell tower. They showed how they log the stop to ensure due process, and to keep their paperwork in an organized fashion. I got the opportunity to sit in on an autopsy and some of the things they look for when they do that to make sure all avenues have been properly considered. Overall, this internship has given me a small scope into a big picture, and all the different stuff Law Enforcement must adapt to in order to properly do their job. In Law Enforcement sometimes you walk, sometimes you crawl, sometimes you run, but it seems this adaptability always keeps in mind the big picture of building a better safer community."
In conclusion, a law enforcement internship is more than just a step on the path to a career in policing. It is a transformative experience that provides real-world exposure, facilitates skill development, builds valuable connections, and helps aspiring law enforcement professionals determine their career fit. Interns learn to effectively interact with diverse communities, manage conflicts, and apply appropriate decision-making strategies. Furthermore, internships foster a sense of belonging, responsibility, and accountability, which are vital traits in any law enforcement career. The goal of the Sheriff’s Office is to continue to support and acknowledge the relevance of law enforcement internships. We also recognize the immense contributions of these programs in shaping the next generation of law enforcement professionals who will serve and protect our communities with dedication and integrity.
Training Division Snapshot
Training Technician Amy Rayman, Deputies Chris Anderson and Mike Strelow
| 2023 Fiscal Year-to-Date | 2022 Fiscal Year | 2021 Fiscal Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| POST Approved Non-mandated Training | 3875 | 3630 | 3078 |
|
Conflict Management |
84 | 90 | 204 |
|
Crisis Intervention |
467 | 473 | 204 |
|
Diversity, Cultural Difference/Implicit Bias |
284 | 300 | 408 |
|
Emergency Vehicle Operation |
160 | 72 | 112 |
|
Use of Force |
1556 | 2638 | 1647 |
| Total Training Hours | 6426 | 7203 | 5653 |
Senior Administration
Sheriff
Kevin Torgerson
Chief Deputy—ADC
James Schueller
Captains
David Adams
Samantha Reps
Macey Tesmer
Chief Deputy—LEC
Brian Howard
Captains
Jon Jacobson
Kelly Lee
Ryan Mangan
Tim Parkin
Chris Wallace
Executive Assistant
Laura Collins
Dates of Interest
August 1
High Forest Township Meeting
Elmira Township Meeting
Night to Unite
Olmsted County Board Meeting
August 2
Salem Township Meeting
August 3
Dover City Council Meeting
August 7
Cascade Township Meeting
Oronoco Township Meeting
Pleasant Grove Township Meeting
Quincy Township Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
August 8
Byron City Council Meeting
Marion Township Meeting
New Haven Township Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
August 10
Eyota City Council Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting
August 14
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Orion Township Meeting
Rock Dell Township Meeting
August 15
Farmington Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
Pine Island City Council Meeting
August 16
Haverhill Township Meeting
August 21
Eyota Township Meeting
Kalmar Township Meeting
Oronoco City Council Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting
August 22
Byron City Council Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting
August 24
Eyota City Council Meeting
Olmsted County Fire Meeting
Olmsted Co. Township Assoc. Meeting
August 28
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Dover Township Meeting
Viola Township Meeting