President Dellwo called the January 7th, 2020 meeting to order at 0805 hours.
President Dellwo called the second day meeting on January 8th, 2020 to order at 0805 hours.
Present were: President Dellwo, Vice President LeDoux, North Braaten, South Miles, Secretary Harjes, Treasurer Berglund, 2000 Phillips, 2100 Zynda, 2200 Dellwo, 2300 Veldkamp, 2400 Theel, 2500 Miakkula, 2600 Beasley, 2700 Carlson, 2800 Weinrich, 2900 Hanson, 3100 Pearson, 3200 Danielson, Business Manager Baker.
All new and current board members sworn in with the Oath of Office.
Motion to accept the October minutes: Motion by South, Second by North: CARRIED
The Board welcomes Kelly Phillips as the new 2000 District Delegate and Rob Veldkamp as the new 2300 District Delegate.
Chief’s time:
1000: Colonel Langer and Lt Col. Schrofer arrived
Recap of the latest news of the Waseca officer shooting and the State Patrol’s role in the incident.
CHQ: The original hope was to have collaborative effort in conducting the compensation study with the State and MLEA. He doesn’t think it will be the collaborative effort he was hoping for. He’d just like the compensation study to get done now at this point to have data to work with. With any outcome of this study, there will always be the MMB perspective and the MLEA perspective. The Colonel does his best to explain our staffing situation to MMB, the future of our staffing situation and the difficulties in hiring and training a new State Trooper to fill a station.
2400: Why doesn’t our commissioner knock on MMB’s commissioner’s door and point out how they could do this compensation study in two weeks at Metro Transit every year? What is the issue with MMB accomplishing this task?
CHQ: It’s been done, but probably should be done again. They always seem to have answers for all issues brought to them regarding our bargaining process and compensation study process. I understand the frustration. Arbitration might be the best path for this process to get people to testify on record regarding issues surrounding the collective bargaining process. I’m happy to go back to the Commissioner to discuss this again with the new developments on the RFP (Request for Proposal) process on the compensation study.
Vice-President: We would like this compensation study to focus on direct compensation for the true apples to apples comparison (top officer hourly pay multiplied by 2080 hours, with no incentives). We left the August Meet and Confer meeting with MMB feeling pretty good that this would be the goal for this compensation study.
CHQ: Law Enforcement pay is complicated. You have so many factors such as incentive pay, shift differential pay, fitness incentives, etc., but if we can get the date on the big picture items at this point, it would be good for us. I don’t think anyone expects this compensation study to find that Troopers are overpaid.
VP: There is one other agency outside of the study group, the University of Minnesota Police. Like us, they have campuses throughout the state. They have language in their contract that MLEA would like to see as well.
President: Do you feel that MMB will actually use the results of this compensation study when and if it comes?
CHQ: I’m not worried about it. It will be a public document, and the people paying attention will see that, and know the underlying issues. It’s one step at a time, get the study done, and see what it does to inform us of the situation with data.
2600: Do you have any sense of the timeline?
CHQ: I would hope at this point, there is nothing stopping MMB from releasing the RFP for the compensation study.
Vice-President: I’m worried that we are running out of time. We have a budget surplus, and if we win an arbitration, the state has the ability to pay. Corrections was very successful in their two-grid adjustment in their latest contract.
CHQ: There are some other issues at play with Corrections, but there will be a lot of talk about supplemental budget this legislative session.
Vice-President: Do you have the number of non-retirement separations for 2019?
CHQ: There were 6.
Vice-President: Has there been any more talk about funding for a new headquarters?
CHQ: The talk has turned into planning for a new headquarters and not all out funding. There needs to be a plan before you can ask for money. This wouldn’t be a State Patrol headquarters, this would be labeled a DPS headquarters as it is their initiative, with State Patrol possibly using space within the building.
President: Do you have any idea of any initiatives this year during the legislative session?
CHQ: There are numerous possible criminal justice reforms that could be brought up this upcoming legislative session.
The Colonel will not lower hiring standards. He would leave his role as Colonel before he has to lower the standards for our agency. This job has heavy consequences if you don’t have the right people in place. The process for extending a Probationary Trooper and considering termination involves numerous people in multiple areas to assist in making a correct decision (HR, IA, etc.).
The Academy is still at 31 cadets and 2 alternates as of this morning. As of the writing of the minutes, the Academy is at 30 cadets with no alternates left to utilize.
Questions for the Chief
3200: Is there any Bluetooth capability with Bluetooth microphones and our current APX radios?
CHQ: Bring it up with the equipment committee.
3100: With the same stagnant pool of Law Enforcement candidates, have we considered running another Cops/Police Corps type school for prior law enforcement? The 18-week academy is a significant deterrent to prior law enforcement wanting to come to State Patrol.
CHQ: What would be the magic number for them to be willing to come?
3100: I don’t know, but I believe we would get more qualified applicants that want to come to our agency.
CHQ: It would be a difficult time to fill an incumbent school with our current pay situation. Our pay situation is widely known across the state. It does make it difficult to make the retention argument that we are losing people to other agencies, when we target incumbents to fill an academy.
Vice-President Follow-up: I agree with the Colonel. It would will hurt our current pay arguments.
2900: Is there any plan in place to see what our needs for staffing and where we’re currently at? Where do we need to be for a full complement?
CHQ: We don’t have a model. It is part of the strategic planning meetings. The current climate is to ask for a lot. I hope we can demonstrate that we need more Troopers and more pay. We’re in a bind to fill specialty positions and then backfilling those positions back on the road. We’re asked to do a lot with very little resources. I don’t want us to fail, but we need certain things to move forward to help us.
2800: Could we look at the timeframes governed by TZD shifts to see if we’re really using the hours at the most beneficial times?
CHQ: The funding and the rules are archaic. The model is antiquated. NHTSA sets the rules and requirements. We’ve got to have more flexibility in how the system currently works.
2800: Are districts budgeted overtime, and why are some using overtime to use shifts and others aren’t?
CHQ: There is no district allotment of overtime. We trust the Captain decisions in how they manage their overtime. We move money throughout the year to cover districts as needed.
2800: If you stop a vehicle, ID the driver and are clearly intoxicated, should we still pursue the vehicle?
CHQ: Policy states that if the driver is known, we shall not pursue.
2700: Can we look again at external vest carriers for improved officer safety/health reasons?
CHQ: External carriers improve officer comfort and not officer safety. Is the ability to take off an external vest carrier truly improving officer safety? I was in a safety meeting last week and getting hit on the side of the road wasn’t even brought up. I’m not a fan of external carriers for a bunch of reasons.
2700: During CIT training at CIST, it was brought up to include detailed notes in your event about a mental health incident. Could we get more than two years look back on LOIs and be able to internally flag records as an officer safety issue?
CHQ: I’ll bring it up. It wasn’t a money issue but was originally implemented due to maintaining the system performance.
2700: The equipment committee received some samples of high gloss belt holsters for tourniquet holsters. Our concern would be that it turned into a mandatory wear item if issued and to keep it optional.
CHQ: No, that should not be an issue if the times comes.
2600: Regarding the increased vacation accrual for new Troopers with prior military service, there are Troopers that missed it before the opportunity existed or were never notified of it when hired.
CHQ: The contract is extremely strict on this.
2500: With the Mobile Response Team training, communication was brought up as an issue. Would it be beneficial for earpieces to be purchased for more effective communication instead of hand signals while on a protest line?
CHQ: I’ll bring it up to Captain Dwyer.
2500: Are there any updates on Line 3?
CHQ: We do have weekly calls with the Governor’s office and Captain Dwyer regarding the developments of Line 3. The permitting process is still continuing. Homeland Security is looking at hiring a non-sworn coordinator to help connect the dots between all areas impacted throughout the state. The Colonel has been very cautious to send out any information on this project due to the data requests that surround it.
South Follow-up: Has DNR changed any of their policies to assist more with this?
CHQ: Colonel Smith has been integral with every conference call, and they will be in it whether or not it’s on the highway, state park or state land.
2100 Follow-up: Some Troopers are worried about what would happen to vacations if something were to happen with this project.
CHQ: Plan your vacations. Live your life. We don’t know what will happen.
2400: If we ever put on a State Trooper on the Metro Transit Homeless Action Team (they deal with homeless and encampment issues in the metro), I am concerned about the unarmed law enforcement members on that team. This is concerning to me if we ever were to include a Trooper on that team.
CHQ: We’ll cross that bridge when and if we cross that bridge.
2400: Are there any career enrichment task forces or opportunities out there for Troopers?
CHQ: The Colonel is certainly open to looking at these, but they need to align with our mission. They would be good for enrichment, but the reality is that it would also leave us shorter on the road.
2400: Do we have any plans for any duty gear or equipment modernization such as the lights for pistols, better belts, etc.
CHQ: We do have some items on the list such as lights for sidearms, but I’m not comfortable on any large scale purchases of equipment right now until we get a sense of any legislative funding.
2300: Curious about staffing levels at RTMC and SRCC?
CHQ: Rochester has been experiencing some more turnover issues, but RTMC has been well staffed as of recently.
2200: Has MMB always been so difficult to deal with?
Business Manager Baker: It’s always been a slow & difficult process with their high turnover and it’s tough to get anything done with them.
2100: There have been multiple Sheriffs that have been more and more frustrated with our staffing situation in our area.
CHQ: I wish I could wave a magic wand to get more Troopers and get them more money.
2000: Do we have a timeline for body cameras yet and a plan for the implementation?
CHQ: Due to state law, we have to have a legislative hearing during the legislative session with both the House and Senate Transportation Committee to start this process. This session it may be possible to have those hearings. Once that is done, we need to secure funding for the technology. Both of these tasks need to happen during the legislative session. We’re looking at a few years out right now.
President Follow-up: Have you played any role in the Office Involved Shooting panel?
CHQ: None
2000: Is there an idea of a plan of a supervisor for ISS in Lt Carroll’s absence?
CHQ: It’s topic of conversation of what ISS should look like. It’s not the best solution to have a Major oversee the operations of ISS. My prediction is that it will not take 9 months to solve this issue.
2000: With Hennepin County going to encrypted radios, they offered free encrypted portables to use to monitor their traffic.
CHQ: They are not the only agency that is encrypted. There are numerous other counties moving to an encrypted system as well. It’s very gracious for them to offer free portables, but we don’t want their equipment in our vehicles. It’s a challenge for us, and I’ve implored the state radio board to look into interoperability issues as well. I have no interest in accepting loaner radios for some members of our agency as it is more of a band-aid to the bigger interoperability issue.
South: What else would the supplemental budget include?
CHQ: You have to describe why it is critical and really meant to be only used for emergencies. It can’t be something to gain traction on things, but to get us back what we lost.
South: What happens if it doesn’t work out?
CHQ: The consequence would most likely be no 2021 academy. It would be very difficult to have an academy if we don’t get that supplemental budget.
South: Have we thought about our academy hiring process as a whole to shorten it down and speed it up?
CHQ: I think we have one of the shortest application processes from initial application to a conditional job offer. We try to shave off as much time as we can during that process.
President Follow-up: What do you see with other state agencies and their academy lengths?
CHQ: They are getting longer in length as well.
North: Where are we at with MPS?
CHQ: We’re still waiting for Hexagon to fix issues with the program. We’re waiting for the program to be where we need it, with no issues, before deploying it.
Secretary: I just wanted to bring up smart phones again for Troopers, the benefits of equipment simplification in the squad and improved communication.
CHQ: This is budgetary, I’d like to get there someday too.
Secretary: We are looking forward to Trooper Karla Bearce moving into the Training Center role as the new Camp Ripley Supervisor.
Treasurer: Just wanted to touch on staffing and all the needs we have in the agency, and how some positions are filled immediately and so forth. Is there a future expectation of putting a number on where we should be in stations?
CHQ: The only way to get there is to do some analysis. It gets complicated really quickly. There is no strategic plan to get to a certain number of Troopers.
President: What is the next Trooper Wellness initiative for the agency?
CHQ: We’ll talk about finances and sleep health over the summer and require everyone to attend, including dispatchers. It’ll be similar to the Breachpoint Consulting (Emotional Resilience) training from 2 years ago.
President’s Time
New gas mask questionnaire will be fielded by 61st Academy Cadets. 3M will be the new vendor conducting the questionnaire, and they have a 2% follow-up rate on their gas mask questionnaires (industry average). Previous vendor had nearly a 50% follow-up rate.
CHQ followed up with us from a previous meeting and there are currently 169 road Troopers that earn the 2.6% freeway pay.
Reviewed Delegate Handbook procedures and information.
Mail call – passed around all thank you letters. Business Manager Baker will include in magazine.
Discussion over the Hennepin County Attorney’s policy to collect an officer’s personal. The MPPOA will cross that bridge with a test case and challenge it.
Golf Tournament Update – The roster is almost full. Get your registrations in as quick as possible in order to get a spot.
2020-2021 Committee Assignments
Budget Committee
President Dellwo, Vice President LeDoux, North Delegate Braaten, South Delegate Miles, Treasurer Berglund & Secretary Harjes
Grievance Committee
President Dellwo, Vice President LeDoux, North Delegate Braaten, South Delegate Miles, and District Delegate of the involved district.
Legislative Committee
President Dellwo, Vice President LeDoux, Delegate Beasley, Delegate Miles
Negotiations Committee
President Dellwo, Vice President LeDoux, South Delegate Miles, Delegate Hanson, Delegate Theel, Delegate Beasley, Delegate Miles & Secretary Harjes.
Magazine Committee
Business Manager Baker
Equipment Committee
Delegate Hanson (Chair), Delegate Carlson, Delegate Danielson, Delegate Pearson, Delegate Weinrich, Delegate Veldkamp, Delegate Phillips, Delegate Dellwo, Delegate Zynda, Delegate Miakkula & Delegate Theel. President Dellwo, Ad Hoc Member.
Retirement – MSRS Representative
Vice President LeDoux
Charitable Donations / Upcoming Events
Wishes & More – Feb 1st – Minneapolis, MN – Phillips, Pearson, Weinrich & Poptelecan
MPPOA Legislative Conference – Feb 28th & 29th – St. Cloud, MN – J. Dellwo, LeDoux, Miles, Beasley, Harjes & Carlson & Phillips.
National Troopers Coalition Conference – March 8th–11th – San Antonio, TX – J. Dellwo, LeDoux, and K. Dellwo.
MPPOA DC Fly-In – March 11th-13th – Washington DC – Harjes & Weinrich.
Backing the Blue Line Ball – May 16th – Maikkula, Phillips, Carlson.
MPPOA Summer Conference – June 13-15th – Alexandria, MN – Phillips, Theel, Miles, Carlson, Braaten, LeDoux, Miakkula, J. Dellwo, Harjes, K. Dellwo & Veldkamp.
National Troopers Coalition Conference – August 16th-19th – Anchorage, AK – J. Dellwo, LeDoux & Harjes.
Motion to buy table at Wishes & More for $2500, discounted by $300 for early purchase to $2200 by Delegate Carlson, seconded by Delegate Pearson: CARRIED
Motion to buy table at Backing the Blue Line Ball for $2500 by Delegate Carlson, seconded by Delegate Hanson: CARRIED
Motion to donate $1000 to Alexandria Technical College Delegate Carlson, seconded by Delegate Hanson: CARRIED
Motion to donate $1500 Legionville School Safety Crossing School by Delegate Miles, seconded Delegate Carlson: CARRIED
Motion to donate $4000 to 35th Annual MSPTA Golf Tournament by Delegate Theel, seconded by Delegate Miles: CARRIED
Motion to donate $250 to Annual MPPOA Fishing Tournament Delegate Miles, seconded by Delegate Hanson: CARRIED
Motion to donate $1000 to Daniel Drevnick Scholarship Fund by Delegate Phillips, seconded by Delegate Beasley: CARRIED
Motion to donate $500 to Bears that Care by Delegate Miakkula, seconded by Delegate Miles: CARRIED
Motion to donate $4000 to House of Shields by Delegate Zynda, seconded by Delegate Theel: CARRIED
Motion to donate $250 to the Minnesota 100 Club by Treasurer Berglund, seconded by Delegate Miles: CARRIED
Motion to donate $10 Caribou Gift Card to each dispatcher for National 911 Dispatchers Week by Delegate Hanson seconded by Delegate Veldkamp: CARRIED
Motion to give $250 to Jay Sletten for his time in maintaining the classic car fleet by South Delegate Miles, seconded by Delegate Carlson: CARRIED
Motion to donate $500 to the Ted Foss 20th Annual Golf Tournament by Delegate Theel, seconded by Delegate Carlson. CARRIED
POST Board Update
Mark Fahning will remain on the board until the Governor appoints someone. If someone is interested in being considered for the POST board appointment, you can register at the following link: https://commissionsandappointments.sos.state.mn.us/Agency/Details/29
Treasurers report
Budget was presented to board.
United Partners Outreach is accepting credit card donations now, in addition to checks.
Motion to accept the budget report by Delegate Hanson, seconded by Delegate Carlson: CARRIED
Grievance
No active grievances currently
Internal Affairs
President Dellwo gave an overview of the 2019 Internal Affairs Complaints. Many of the internal affairs investigations were relating to pursuits, squad crashes, traffic violations, off duty incidents, social media postings and work performance issues.
Remember if you are ever the subject of an I/A investigation, notify your District Delegate.
NEVER ATTEND ANY I/A INTERVIEW WITHOUT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATION.
Discussion over our current pursuit policy and the amount of pursuits ending up in internal affairs. President Dellwo will bring the Association’s concerns to the Colonel.
Pension/Retirement:
Reminder, if you are within 5 years of retirement, you may attend a retirement seminar once in your career on duty. It can be beneficial to attend closer to retirement while off duty to make sure you’re on track. You can attend this meeting a second or third time, but it would be on your time off.
Equipment Committee:
- External Vest Carriers for District Investigators have been ordered.
- High Gloss Mic Holder – Working on that
- High Gloss Tourniquet Holder – Working on that, won’t be required to wear if purchased.
- New style winter hat being looked at
- 2019 vehicles still on hand – 45 Ford Sedans, 60 Utilities to go out yet.
- 80 Chargers being ordered this year
- 15-20 IBIS Units hopefully being ordered
- Watch the backing accidents. 2019 had $50,000+ in damages across the fleet.
- Fuel budget outlook is looking good for 2020.
- New vendor selected for fit test (3M)
- 36 squads were hit last year at scenes.
Legislative Committee:
- Session starts Feb 11th, 2020.
- Our big push will be to address our compensation issues once again this session. We have bipartisan support again.
- Once the session starts, we are asking for the support of all State Troopers to contact their representatives and senators to let them know how important the compensation problem is for State Troopers.
- Always use your personal e-mail address/phone to contact your representative.
- Use the following website to find your representative
- Use the following website to contact Governor Walz
Negotiations Committee:
MLEA Attorney Jim Michels – We are disappointed to report that the meeting on the compensation study was unproductive. Given that it is unclear whether the study will be done or, if so, when it would be done; we will be asking the mediator to schedule new dates to return to mediation as soon as possible. MLEA leadership has determined that there is no benefit to wait for the completion of a study about which we have little confidence in its legitimacy or timeliness.
Home Association:
Mobile App – Still some work to do on it. Hoping for February/March completion and testing.
Get out to board members first to test, then members.
Magazine
- Winter, Summer and Fall Editions
- Delegates mailed 10 extra copies of the magazine
New Business:
3200: None
3100: None
2900: None
2800: None
2700: None
2600: None
2500: None
2400: None
2300: None
2200: Cathy Schafer (catherine.schafer@state.mn.us) is the person to contact in HR to get items removed from your file after the required time period has passed. A Trooper can e-mail her directly to make the request.
2200: Is it possible to get a ligher weight fleece jacket similar to the high visibility jacket?
2100 Follow-up: Will bring up at equipment committee again.
2100: Consider joining the State Patrol Honor Guard if given the opportunity. It is a very honorable, humbling and memorable experience. You don’t need previous military experience to be a part of the Honor Guard and will be trained to perform the role.
2100: Should Troopers be connecting their personal phones to their squad car?
2000 Follow-up: Any data uploaded to the vehicle is stored in the vehicle. Avoid giving access to your text messages, and phonebook while pairing your phone with your vehicle. Use it your discretion, but data such as apps being accessed through the vehicle, text messages, call length & call number can all be pulled from the squad’s infotainment system.
2000: None
North: None
South: None
V.P.: None
Secretary: None
Treasurer: None
President: None
Motion to adjourn Jan 7th, 2020 at 1710 hours. Motion by D2900 Hanson, seconded by South Delegate 2400: CARRIED
Motion to adjourn Jan 8th, 2020 at 1200 hours. Motion by South Delegate Miles, seconded by Delegate Carlson: CARRIED
Upcoming Dates:
February 1st, 2020 – Wishes & More – Minneapolis, MN
February 28th & 29th, 2020 – MPPOA Legislative Conference – St. Cloud, MN
March 8th – 11th, 2020 – National Troopers Coalition – San Antonio, TX
March 11th-13th, 2020 – MPPOA Washington DC Fly-in – Washington DC
April 6th, 2020 – Equipment Committee Meeting – St. Cloud, MN
April 7th, 2020 – Spring Executive Board Meeting – St. Cloud, MN
Jun 13th-15th, 2020 – MPPOA Summer Conference – Alexandria, MN
July 7th, 2020 – Summer Executive Board Meeting – Tower, MN
July 8th & 9th, 2020 – Annual Golf Tournament – Tower, MN
August 4th, 2020 – Retired Troopers Day – St. Cloud, MN
August 16th-19th, 2020 – National Troopers Coalition – Anchorage, AK
October 6th, 2020 – Fall Executive Board Meeting – St. Cloud, MN
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