Category Faribault Show all
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Faribault Receives New Can-Do Canine Dogs!
By Melissa Paquette
MCF-Faribault's Dakota Unit received four new boot camp dogs from Can-Do Canine on Thursday, 7/11. The dogs will be spend the next two weeks getting to know their handlers and the unit prior to starting their actual training on 7/25.
Dogs left to right: Neo, Iver, Teddy & Georgia
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Faribault Promotes Kreger-Dias Abeygunawardena to Sergeant!
Be Melissa Paquette
Congratulations to Sarah Kreger-Dias Abeygunawardena on her promotion to the K1/K2 day shift Float Sergeant position effective 05-22-24.
Sarah started with the DOC at MCF-Faribault in 2016. She is involved in SORT as the Assistant, she is a Mentor, and a Yellow Ribbon Committee member. Sarah was previously a CIT member and Control Tactics / Self Defense Instructor. She has worked Squad, Visiting, Master Control, and Utility. She is also a Certified Emergency Medical Responder.
Congrats Sarah on your promotion!
Pictured left to right: Lt. Wadzinski & Sgt. Kreger-Dias Abeygunawardena
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MCF-Faribault Staff & IPs Assist with Flooding Efforts!
By Captain Melissa Paquette
On June 23rd, DOC's assistance was requested from the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to help with sandbagging efforts in Waterville, MN due to extensive flooding. MCF-FRB Dakota minimum IPs and staff answered the call on June 24-25 by deploying 75 IPs each day to the location. In addition to the IPs, more than 30 staff assisted to make this happen, some working side by side with the IPs both days to provide much needed assistance to the community.
To say that staff and IPs knocked it out of the park would be an understatement! Food Services had 150 bag lunches made for the IPs each day. Central Transport staff not only provided transportation for staff/IPs both days but also assisted during the day and provided supervision. FRB's Safety Administrator ensured that orange t-shirts/vests/work gloves/sunglasses/sunscreen were provided to all IPs. Property staff ensured all IP workers were outfitted with work boots prior to leaving on the first day. Dakota Unit staff generated count sheets and face sheets each morning and also assisted with getting IPs on the buses each morning. Watch Commanders & Lieutenants assisted with communicating the plan out to staff, hired for staff coverage and organized/contacted SORT Team members. ICWC Crew Leaders, SORT Team, Minimum Case Manager, Minimum Lieutenant, Minimum Captain and K9 all provided onsite coverage/supervision throughout the event.
Due to the hard work and extreme heat on day one, I was fully anticipating that several IPs would elect to stay back on day two but that was not the case. We had more IP volunteers than were requested by SEOC ready and willing to serve the following day! At the completion of day one, we were able to drive the IPs around the area so they could have a firsthand look at the flooding devastation; this definitely gave them a better understanding of the important work they were doing.
I can't speak highly enough about the hard work and dedication that staff and IPs displayed during this time. The Emergency Management Team and volunteers onsite had many positive things to say about the entire group and expressed their appreciation for the assistance that DOC provided. We definitely worked together as one unified team and I'm so proud to have been a part of this emergency response. It was an amazing effort to witness!
Thank you to all of these staff that assisted in various ways: Josh Sterling, Ryan Hanson, Nicholas Duffy, Greg Heldt, James Grundman, Kevin Cory, Timothy Twite, Alex Bultman, Rich Cap, Sarah Kreger-Dias Abeygunawardena, Shawn Wegman, Nathan Wegman, Brad Connolly, Nicholas Cline, Tyson Taghon & K9, Joseph Ernste, Cody Hall, Brandon Thibodeau, Kurtis Crosby, William Deike, Ben Wheelock, Jesse Mowers, Mathieu Richer, Anthony Sunde, Benjamin Enerson, Joshua Kilanowski, Andy DuBois, Jacob Wilkemeyer, Paul Banon, Preston Burns, Jess Brandt and Amy Cyr.
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Shout Out: Faribault SEG Renovation
By Melissa Paquette
The past 6-8 weeks have been filled with work lists, tasks, room moves, etc. all in preparation for the segregation unit shutting down for the next 3-4 months. Several work orders had to be completed, along with countless room moves within the facility to ensure that SEG was emptied out by the target date of April 12, 2024.
I'd like to give a huge shout out to Lt. Ryan Hanson, Lt. Matt Olson, Room Assignment Coordinator Leah Nelson, Officer Alec Pfarr and our Maintenance department for all of their hard work! Had it not been for all of these staff continuously working to make this happen and stay on track, the process would not have gone as smoothly as it did.
Thank you!!
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Shout Out: Faribault Staff Assisting with Legal Mail Distribution
By Janet Friesen
On Wednesday, April 3 the mailroom had 84 IP's come up to Intake for legal mail distribution. This was coming off of a very busy morning with Multiple ICS's being called. Multiple staff /Security officers stepped in to help and because of their assistance we were able to get the IP's in/out with no issues and in a timely manner.
The mailroom wants to give all those staff/officers a big shout out for helping to keep what could have been a very chaotic situation run smooth.
Mailroom staff are not security staff, so being able to depend on security staff that are willing to go above and beyond their typical daily duties is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for keeping us and your fellow colleagues safe!
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MCF-Faribault's Krenske Promoted to Sergeant
By Melissa Paquette
Miranda Krenske began her career with DOC in July 2017.
Up until her recent promotion to 3rd Watch K2 Sergeant, she has worked in the utility pool, 3rd Watch Squad and was a member of the SORT team in which she was selected as a Baton Instructor. Miranda is currently a Control Tactics/Self Defense Instructor, a Chemical Irritant Instructor and is the Coordinator for FRB's FTO Program and A-Team Training.
She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. Congratulations Sgt. Krenske!
L to R: Lt. Tom Wagner and Sgt. Miranda Krenske -
Shout Out: Faribault Sergeant Richard Cap
By Tyler Becker
First watch SGT Richard Cap is a outstanding leader and mentor and goes above and beyond to help out the new staff and senior staff with all their questions and concerns.
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Faribault Hosts 2nd Annual Chili/Soup Cook Off!
By Melissa Paquette
On February 29, MCF-FRB held their 2nd annual chili/soup cook off! The event was sponsored by the Yellow Ribbon Committee and CARE Club Committee.
Congratulations to the winners:
- 1st Place--Officer Andrew Gengler
- 2nd Place--Captain Martin Dahlen
- 3rd Place & People's Choice--Case Manager Jason Starkson
L to R: Captain Dahlen, Officer Gengler & Case Manager Starkson -
Shout Out: Officer T. Hanson
By Jeremiah Roush
I just want to give a staff shout out to Officer T. Hanson (MCF-FRB) for always trying to go above and beyond while doing security rounds in the foodservice building helping turn machines on and helping run cleaning cycles on machines when no Incarcerated individuals or staff are using the kitchen.
Thank you.
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Shout Out: Mental Health First Aid Instructors Katelyn Hurias and Rylie Scheff
By Amanda Tuthill
A small group of case managers at MCF-Faribault recently had the opportunity to attend a Mental Health First Aid Training, instructed by MCF-Faribault's behavioral health CPT's Katelyn Hurias and Rylie Scheff.
Both Katelyn and Rylie provided a spectacular training – providing us with the essential skills to assist someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. They kept a very sensitive topic light and engaging, yet acknowledged the significance of aligning this training with our line of work, for both the individuals we serve and those we serve alongside. I appreciated the softness in their approach and continual check-ins with our group.
For anyone who has the opportunity I highly recommend this training. Great job Katelyn and Rylie!
