President LeDoux called the July 11th, 2023 meeting to order at 0804 hours.
Present were: President LeDoux, Vice President Beasley, South Theel, Secretary Harjes, Treasurer Orpen, 2000 Phillips, 2100 Bormann, 2200 Dellwo, 2300 Larsen, 2400 Cederstrom, 2500 Hanson, 2600 McClure, 2700 McGrew, 2800 Johnson, 2900 Hanson, 3100 Pearson, 3200 Danielson, Business Manager Baker.
Absent – North Weinrich
Pledge of allegiance
Moment of silence for fallen officers
Motion to accept the April minutes: Motion by 2400, Seconded by 2100: CARRIED
Chief’s time:
1245: Lt Col. Bogojevic arrived in person & Colonel Langer called in via phone.
Lots of oral reprimand on BWC policy violations (such as battery running out and not notifying supervisor) and professional use of the MDC (messaging).
2800 follow-up: A Trooper had their body cam on accidentally at the end of their shift, and walked into their house, and a supervisor reviewed that video and made a comment about it to the Trooper.
CHQ: By policy they still need to watch it from beginning to end.
30 by 30 survey went out to all females in the agency to get information on their experiences joining the State Patrol and being part of the State Patrol.
President follow-up: Could you get me a copy of that survey for the board’s awareness?
CHQ: Yes, I can send that to you. The survey has very basic questions. We’ve received feedback from the women involved at that first meeting, that we all want as many people involved with this as possible, both men and women.
There will be a recruiting survey coming soon to all members of the agency from our new marketing firm (MOD). They are looking at everything we are doing marketing-wise and what will work and what has worked for other state agencies around the nation.
2300 follow-up: Will that be anonymous?
CHQ: Yes. I don’t know if there will be an option to list your name in the survey.
2600 follow-up: With regards with the marketing, are we looking at discontinuing that stuff that is not working and using that money elsewhere?
CHQ follow-up: We’ve been using the same marketing agency forever. They are using the same tactics over and also using the Office of Communications. This new marketing firm will look at how we market ourselves. We’re done with the old agency.
I really appreciate the visits around the state. The attendance at the meetings has been really good. It helps me figure out what is on people’s minds around the state.
The Commissioner’s office has been supportive. The Commissioner wrote an article for the Trooper’s Magazine. I think this will be the future for him.
We still have some challenges with the response to the city of Minneapolis. I am thankful for the staffing we put in place to help navigate the city over the 4th of July.
I’m thankful for your efforts on Project 20(23) and HEAT and the challenges there. Our roads have been crazy and deadly this year.
Soon you’ll see some training for the legislative updates in relation to cannabis changes, drug paraphernalia, and the MN POST board changes. There have been some good changes to the POST board recently with some new members and a new chair.
The Trooper did nothing wrong in relation to the incident relating to Mr. Thompson. We didn’t have any public messaging due to that fact. I encourage everyone to focus on their decision-making when it comes to pursuits. What happened in the Mr. Thompson incident wasn’t a pursuit. I’m thankful for the training and policy we have in place.
Questions for the Chief
3200: No questions
3100: I’m curious about the ratio of internal complaints vs external complaints that we see.
CHQ: That information should be on the public dashboard portal. If that doesn’t give the information you were looking for, we can get it for you.
3100: I have some questions on the yearly goals found on evaluations. Are they ours or the agency goals? The goals in our district are the same for everyone and we typically don’t have a say in our goals. I even had a goal to be a recon at one point, when we had none in our district at the time, and it was denied.
CHQ: I don’t disagree with anything you said. I don’t know if every trooper in the district should have the same goal either. I would like to see loftier goals other than a single community engagement event. It’s a great conversation for us to have at the next captains meeting.
3100: I have a relic from the past, a district memo book. A district memo from six years ago, that I was under the impression was still in effect, was used as a basis on something, which the current captain doesn’t agree with. The general order outlines the need for the district to maintain a district memo book. It puts a trooper at a disadvantage if they don’t understand the current district policies.
CHQ: I don’t like district-based policies from my perspective. I don’t like things happening that we don’t know about across the state or aren’t consistent across the state. I would like to have a little bit better understanding of the issue. We can discuss it more.
2900: No questions
2800: No questions
2700: What does the new safe and sick leave law mean for us? How does it impact us as an agency and what will that payroll tax look like?
CHQ: The easy answer right now is – I don’t know.
2600: No questions
2500: Could we do better or change anything in the future regarding the admin leave granted in a case such as the Minneapolis/Thompson incident? I don’t really know how that decision is made.
CHQ: The MLEA contract isn’t very good with how something such as this issue is handled. We want to make the best decision possible with the information we have to keep our folks healthy and to feel good and to help them process an incident. We didn’t deem it a critical incident since it didn’t need to be, but we did grant administrative leave after the fact. Everyone from the delegate to the supervisors involved can help make recommendations and move that up the chain.
2500 follow-up: A letter came out from the commissioner basically stating the trooper did nothing wrong, and that the investigation needs to play out. It would have been good to share that letter to the agency to show that somebody is advocating for us. The letter was embedded in news articles online and hard to find.
CHQ: I don’t disagree.
President follow-up: Nick will get a copy of the letter to the involved member. I think the letter from the commissioner should have been sent directly to the Trooper to show support. I think we have improved immensely with usage of administrative leave throughout the organization.
2500: I’ve had troopers come to me on the subject on HEAT. Troopers are stressing out about the comments needed in ROAR if they have less than one contact an hour, especially during those busy times when HEAT is scheduled, such as rush hour.
CHQ: I don’t think this affects anyone who is legitimately trying their best. If you’re going from call to call to call during the entire period, you have nothing to worry about. If someone questions you on not doing anything, the data supports you that you were busy during the time. The scenario that would be a problem is if a trooper did have unobligated time and not using it wisely. Very clearly, all I’m asking for is for troopers to go out there and do the best you can.
South follow-up: Who picks the days that HEAT occurs? 2/3’s of the HEAT shifts occurs on the B shift weekend in 2400.
CHQ: We’re asking for 10 days per month, with 4 hours of coordinated effort across the state. We try to spread those days out and it’s never going to be perfect. The intention isn’t for it to land on the same rotation weekend. It hasn’t been a problem yet that I’m aware of and we feel like it’s working well.
President follow-up: Some individuals have been getting e-mails from their supervisor based upon their performance through those time periods and being held to a TZD type standard. I don’t need HEAT to go out and do my job. The common complaint is that the extra forms (ROAR) is causing frustration and the thought that this expectation of increased activity will never end.
CHQ: It’s about a coordinated state-wide effort to attack the reasons why fatal crashes are happening. We’re trying to be very reasonable on this. We’re trying to go after the poor driving behavior, seatbelts, distracted driving, speed and impaired driving, that cause fatal crashes. We didn’t do HEAT during the winter. The goal is to change behavior. If we focus on those pillars, we’re going to make the biggest difference. The goal is to be successful with our mission and reduce deaths on our roadways.
2500: Is there a reason why a probationary trooper isn’t getting freeway pay when on FTO, if their permanently assigned station is a freeway station?
CHQ: It should be easy to figure it out. I want to know the answer that as well.
CHQ follow-up: HR made an error on many of the probationary troopers and their freeway pay. It will be corrected as soon as possible.
2400: No questions
2300: Will there be a lieutenant’s test this year?
CHQ: It will be after CIST training.
2200: No questions
2100: Will we be purchasing more IBIS units?
CHQ: Are they working well?
2500 follow-up: They work great.
CHQ: That feedback is helpful. There hasn’t been a plan to purchase more of them.
CHQ follow-up: IBIS units are $2,970 per unit and $745 per year in subscription costs per unit. Although the new ones are working well, we will hold with the current deployed allotment for the time being.
2100: Is there a reason we don’t license people during our academy to avoid losing out on 1% of their pension in retirement? Have we looked at cadets being sworn in when they start the academy?
CHQ: It’s really tricky, and it’s not something that I have interest in tackling.
President follow-up: As a compromise, is it something we can look at for already licensed officers, such as an ETSO academy, to help with recruiting into our agency?
CHQ: I would be open to a discussion on this, but I think a legislative solution would work for us and any other agency that conducts academies in the state. Really what we’re talking about is a pension contribution and if we found a way to split that from being sworn in this case.
President: I would be receptive to the discussion. We’re not concerned about the added cost about making contributions?
CHQ: No. It’s not going to move the needle in the grand scheme of things. I don’t know if it would bring more people in the door, but it would certainly help remove an obstacle.
2100: We’re having some dispatch issues with the PSAP such as calls not being dispatched in a timely manner, dead silence on the radio and things like that.
CHQ: We want to know about the dispatch issues
South follow-up: Do you think it’s time to look at the consolidation not working and looking at the original plan on adding the Duluth PSAP.
CHQ: Everyone across the state is struggling for dispatch, jail and peace officer help based upon a Sheriff’s conference call I was recently on. We built out the Rochester PSAP bigger than it needed to be. Rochester seems to be able to carry a larger load than the metro. We would have failed if we never consolidated. I don’t think our troubles would be over with an additional center. There are some ideas for having a two-phase dispatch center, but it’s a proceed with caution mentality. The challenges we have at dispatch aren’t going to be relieved in the near future.
2000: Requested a sidebar discussion on some issues.
North: Absent
South: Troopers are wondering why we didn’t have public support from you on our trooper pay bill?
CHQ: It’s not in the Governor’s recommended policy and budget so I can’t talk to it. I can’t just walk in an testify on whatever I want to. That doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention to thing. You can’t just walk in and do whatever you want when you work for the executive branch. If you go in an testify on something that is not in the policy or budget, you’re on shaky ground. For example, when you hear about the move over law and people ask us, we’re neutral on it, since it isn’t in the governor’s policy. Never take that to mean that I’m not advocating for things such as the salary bill behind closed doors.
President follow-up: Every chance I’ve had to speak to the commissioner on that piece of legislation, I have stressed the importance of the legislation.
CHQ: I don’t think the problem is whether or not I testify, it wouldn’t change anything, other than make people in the organization feel good but see no change. My speculation is that there are big labor organizations not in favor of the legislation, unless they received it as well.
President: I don’t disagree with you. I think our biggest adversary is MMB thinking that the sky will fall if we received this. It is done at other places such as the University of Minnesota, to a higher degree than what we are asking. The Colonel had the OLA reach out to our group and it was a great opportunity to share the details of our situation. We’re going to continue to fight this fight since it is worth fighting.
CHQ: That is a perfect example of when I can be helpful behind closed doors I was able to ask them to other parties, and asked for the OLA to reach out to Sergeant Ledoux.
President: The commissioner hasn’t lived the struggles we’ve had with MMB. I appreciate the conversations I’ve had with him. He is welcome to come to one of our meetings if it fits his schedule.
CHQ: The commissioner gets it. There is no hiding from the fact that salary is an issue with hiring peace officers.
South: Can we look at all the troopers leaving 2400 to go to the capitol? We’re getting so low with staffing, district supervisors have basically told us time off will likely be denied.
CHQ: We just had a conversation at staff this morning. 4600 has many vacancies as well and we’re not filling all those positions right now. They aren’t instant fills, so we’re just going to have to wait to backfill them.
South: I wanted to say thank you for jumping on the suggestion quickly and allowing us to go to human trafficking training. There was a lot of useful information that we learned from the training.
CHQ: I’m glad that there is interest. I think that just scratched the surface.
Secretary: Is there a reason why we didn’t post the EVOC position for the metro as well with the residency challenges we’ve had with Camp Ripley?
CHQ: Last time we posted it for the metro was because we had no interest in the Camp Ripley spot on the first posting, so we opened it up to the metro on the second posting.
Treasurer: No Questions
Vice-President: I’d like to have a small sidebar discussion.
President: In Texas, they were successful with passing legislation to allow Troopers to work 50-hour work weeks. I would like to see us implement some sort of program that gives Troopers the option to use 8 hours of overtime per month to use as they see fit to target areas within their station where they think they would be productive.
President: Thank you for the Minnesota State Patrol Day at the Capitol. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from that event.
President: I know there was more community engagement funds allocated by the legislature. Does the State Patrol get a piece of that pie?
CHQ: There is additional money allocated to hire community engagement people, but they are for positions in the commissioner’s office.
President: The agency was successful in getting a bump in pay through a range reassignment for our CVI partners. Obviously, I’m happy for the men and women that hold those positions, but we have been frustrated after trying to make that happen for us. We would like to see how that process worked and use that as a template going forward.
CHQ: Those decisions are MMB related, and they can’t go forward without some support from the agency as well. I’m happy to have further discussion on that.
President: What is this CALEA accreditation money entail?
CHQ: It is money to hire two people to do this work. One of those people can be sworn supervisor, but it doesn’t need to be. I’m not in favor of moving a sworn supervisor into the position right now due to staffing. Several states similar in size are accredited. You subscribe and then meet the standards outlined by the organization. I think we’re pretty good, but it means more to hold us to an external objective standard.
President: Why do we need this now aside from the current political environment?
CHQ: I’m eager to test us from an objective standpoint with criteria to know that we’re not missing anything. It’s not going to be easy or fast. I think as an agency we do a great job. In this environment, this carries water for us as an organization.
President: Have they started on the predesign work for metro facilities?
CHQ: Not that I am aware of, but I’m hoping soon.
President: I hear the food during the academies is very good, is it possible to get that same food for CIST?
CHQ: Food is always challenging at Camp Ripley.
President: With the recent statute change allowing the release of body-worn camera footage to family members, I find myself deeply concerned about the situation when deadly force is used by a trooper. Under this new policy, while the family has access to watch the video, I am unable to do so myself.
CHQ: We sent Captain Geiger to Washington DC for a PERF meeting on best practices with body worn camera video. There was lots of good insights there, but no clarity. The law that allows the family to view it, is the same law that says the video will be released in the public domain after the incident. I can’t control what the trooper sees in the public domain if a use of deadly force video is released.
President: I don’t like the idea that we’re even contemplating speed cameras in work zones. I want the men and women troopers & officers to be in those work zones instead of cameras. I hope that won’t gain any traction.
President: I found it ironic how in the transportation bill that they are studying why tab revenue is down.
President: Could the warehouse ordering system be updated to included photos of items, so we order the correct item in the district?
Presidents Time
MPPOA Summer Conference – Treasurer Richard Orpen ran for a board seat but lost. We need to get a Trooper back on the MPPOA board.
Discussion on how MPPOA can improve their position at the legislature.
Pursuits aren’t worth your career. Bad things happen once a fast car gets off the interstate.
Be professional with your MDC usage.
Treasurers report:
- Treasurer Orpen presented the budget report.
- Investment account doing well
- Communication Expense – Will need to submit receipts going forward.
- Budget is in good shape.
- We will be switching credit card vendors.
Magazine:
- Commissioner is now writing articles again for it.
- If you’re not getting the magazine, it is likely address related. Get Mark your current address (you can fill out the address update on the website or the app to notify Mark).
- October Magazine deadline is September 1st
- I’m open to suggestions for ideas and content.
Grievance: None
Pension/Retirement:
Please make sure to switch your HCSP to something other than the Money Market funds to increase your rate of return.
Treasurer Orpen has expressed interest in replacing President LeDoux on the pension board once he retires.
Equipment Committee:
- New tourniquet holders being looked at.
- New uniform shirts and pants are approved and ordered.
- Active shooter equipment ordered and should be here on time.
- New purchasing system (P-Card) will be rolled out by fall.
- Smaller stop sticks not economically feasible right now, plus it is a policy issue.
- 23 more squads going out this year.
- 2024 we will have no sedans, only Durangos and F150s. Sedans should hopefully return in 2025.
- Mobile field force – make sure you have the equipment you need, and you are properly marked on your helmet.
- Axon Body 4 refresh will likely occur over summer on 2024
- New Panasonic FZ-40 Toughbooks are being ordered for 4700 in addition to roughly about half of the agency to replace CF-31 Toughbooks. The new computer will require docking stations in squads and offices to be replaced.
- Looking at the PA microphone to be mounted on the driver door.
Legislative Committee:
We secured an increase to 99% for members experiencing total and permanent disability, implemented a one-time non-compounding cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees, as they have been frozen at a one percent increase since 2014. Additionally, we successfully amended the expiration date for supplemental employer contributions to the State Patrol Plan, extending it from one year to three years when the plan is fully funded. Furthermore, we secured a $10 million cash infusion into the State Patrol Fund to address increased liabilities resulting from a rise in disability retirements.
In the tax bill, a provision was added to allow a subtraction of $25,000 for retired members whose federal adjusted income does not exceed $100,000.
This is a summary of the matters in which the MSPTA actively engaged during this legislative session.
Negotiations Committee:
Negotiations begin on July 26th & 27th.
MAPE & AFSME will receive increases of 5.5% (year one) and 4.5% (year two) for their next contract. The last time state bargaining groups received that significant of an increase was around 30 years ago.
We hope to get the finalized grievance 21 day language in the next contract.
Home Association:
Date Change Fall Meeting due to NTC to October 10th, 2023
Retirement plaques close to being done for Retired Trooper Day
Discussed a shirt design.
Bylaw vote was approved by membership.
Board elections are coming up this fall. Every position on the ballot except for Secretary.
New Business:
3200: None
3100: None
2900: None
2800: None
2700: None
2600: With regard to the MRT/CART IA investigation, is there any more we can do here to get a member listed as a witness instead of a subject?
President: We discussed this with our legal counsel, and they advised there isn’t anything we can do.
2500: None
2400: None
2300: Are our health insurance rates going up?
2400 follow-up: 2.5%
2200: Golf tournament for next summer tentatively scheduled for July 22nd and 23rd, 2024
2100: None
2000: None
North: None
South: None
V.P.: None
Secretary: None
Treasurer: None
President:
Motion to adjourn at 1600 hours. Motion by 2900 Hanson, seconded by 2300 Larsen: CARRIED
Upcoming Dates:
- MSPTA Golf Tournament – July 19th– July 20th, 2023 – Otter Tail, MN
- Retired Trooper Day – August 1st, 2023 – St. Cloud, MN
- LELS Delegate Training September 6th & 7th, 2023 – (LeDoux, Phillips, Larsen, Danielson, Orpen, Pearson, Cederstrom & Theel)
- National Troopers Coalition – October 2nd-5th, 2023 – Atlantic City, NJ (LeDoux, Phillips, Bormann)
- Fall Executive Council Meeting – October 10th, 2023 – St. Cloud, MN (DATE CHANGE)
- Winter Executive Council Meeting – January 10th-11th, 2024 – Duluth, MN (WEDNESDAY START)
- Spring Executive Council Meeting – April 2nd, 2024 – Waite Park, MN
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