Category Rush City Show all
-
First Food Truck Day at Rush City
By Captain Nate Bartz
Due to the Rush City Facility location, staff accessibility to restaurants has been pretty limited. In a effort to improve food options Rush City has started the process of having a schedule for food trucks on grounds.
-
David Schmitt Promoted to Lt. at Rush City
By Captain Nathan Bartz
David Schmitt was promoted to the 1st Watch Lieutenant Position at Rush City effective 09/13/2023. David has a wealth of sucurity and criminal justice experience in the DOC, Law Enforcement and the Military. David started with the DOC in 2011. He has an AS Degree, is Post Certified and an Army Veteran.
-
Shout Out: Rush City Instructors
By Mfon Archibong
The instructors at Ruch City are nothing short of exceptional. Their ability to turn a lack of skills into an opportunity for growth and development is truly inspiring. They remind us that mastery is an endless journey, and we can always strive to be further along that path. Every instructor invests themselves in training the best Academy Trainees and officers with dedication and commitment to excellence.
Recently, I had the pleasure of observing Sgt. Tatum and Ofc. Juhl during the Control Tactics training, and their analytical thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities were truly remarkable. They handled a realistic correctional facility scenario with professionalism and expertise, setting an example for the new Academy Trainees and officers to follow in our collective safety strategy.
-
Shout Out: Cory Swenson & Brad Pixley
By Jamie Chandler
I would like to send a Shout Out to Electronics Systems Supervisor, Cory Swenson & Electrician Lead, Brad Pixley. On Labor Day, Sept. 9th both arrived to MCF Rush City in the morning hours, not only on their day off, but on a Holiday no less.
CX2 was without the main flag lights, and the AC in the complex bubble was out. No AC is survivable, even in a bubble with no air flow. But is miserable when temps swell into the upper 90's and the humidity is greater than a Louisiana bayou. Having no working lights in the unit meant delaying flag, at least until the sun came up to brighten our situation.
Cory and Brad worked diligently to make the lights come on and they were successful! Thus, ensuring the safety of our Officer's and the IPs. Ultimately allowing flags and switch outs to continue as planned. Once they had the lights on, they went above and beyond and stayed at the facility continuing to work to restore our AC in the bubble. While this took them well into the afternoon hours and required a trip or two to the warehouse for parts Brad and Cory once again came thru in the clutch. The AC is back on!
I could say Thank you to both Brad and Cory, but that doesn't seem like enough. It was their day off, their holiday too – but they each took the time to come to the facility to work on a situation that could have easily “been something to wait until tomorrow." But they didn't, their hard work and dedication kept all CX2 up and running for the day. And added a little comfort to us as well; both in the form of lights and AC!
So instead of a simple “thank you" I would like to say this instead. On behalf of the Sunday CX2 2nd watch crew, “You are the best, we are grateful, we owe you one, we value the help you've given to us, thanks for the support, much obliged, we want to express our gratitude for your help and hard work, you're a life saver!"
-
CCO Kelly Assists Benton County with K9 Demonstration
By Ashlee Berts
I want to recognize CCO John Kelly from Rush City for assisting Benton County with their K9 demonstration on August 4, 2023 at their county fair!
CCO Kelly was at the fair enjoying some family time when he was asked if he would be able to assist with their K9 demonstration due to some last minute changes leaving this task to only one person. CCO Kelly received permission to assist them and was able to demonstrate obedience, narcotics detection, and apprehensions with Benton County Deputy Kadlec.
It is estimated several hundred folks watched the demonstration with many staying for meet and greet afterwards. CCO Kelly used this time to talk about available positions with the DOC and even showed 4 people how to apply online with us!
Thank you for your dedication to the DOC and our community John.
-
Welcome Lisa Stenseth as the New Warden at Rush City Starting August 30th
By Eddie Miles
Please help me welcome Lisa Stenseth as the new Warden at MCF-Rush City!
Warden Stenseth began her career with the MN Department of Corrections in 2000 as a Corrections Officer. She promoted to Case Manager at Stillwater in 2005 and eventually Corrections Program Director over case manager in 2013. In these roles she was instrumental in various programs and committees including Restorative Justice, TPC – Effective Interventions, Kaizen facilitator, the Agency’s Case Management Continuous Improvement project, and Co-Chair of the Abuse Review Committee. In 2019 she accepted the position as Stillwater’s Associate Warden of Operations. In 2022, she led Stillwater through a successful PREA audit as the facility’s PREA Compliance Manager. In 2020 Warden Stenseth sponsored the implementation of the MCF-Stillwater Women in Corrections Committee, a first of its kind in the agency. Warden Stenseth has a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Warden Stenseth's first day as RC Warden is August 30th.
Warden Lisa Stenseth -
Shout Out: Heidi Schafer
By Lori Timlin
I want to recognize the extraordinary efficiency of Heidi Schafer, OAS in Visiting at MCF-Rush City. She fields my frequent, unusual requests with grace and goes the extra mile. Most recently, an incarcerated individual gave birth on a Saturday, and she had the father and baby approved for a visit by the following Wednesday!
So much gratitude for the caliber of her work.
-
Shout Out: Rush City Sex Offender Treatment Staff
By Michelle Saari
The OASIS sex offender treatment program has been severely short staffed recently resulting in one full time therapist and one therapist on loan from Lino Lakes to serve the entire program. While recruitment and hiring of new staff were a priority the past few months, Vicki Schroeder (the full time Rush City staff) and Maurita Christensen (on loan from LL) held the entire program together with the amazing support assistance of OAS Kathy Hanson.
These staff have been the glue holding the unit together running programming while helping to train-in new staff. Kristin Wittwer was also a huge help training-in staff prior to her transfer to case management.
THANK YOU for your incredible work the past few months to ensure incarcerated individuals continue to receive treatment. We could not do it without you and so appreciate your work and dedication to your clients and the facility.
-
Rush City Staff Work at Chisago Co. Fair
By Capt. Erik Rasmussen
Several MCF-Rush City employees staffed a booth at the Chisago Co. Fair July 20th - July 22nd to promote recruitment and community engagement. Staff from a variety of areas within the facility volunteered to assist during the fair. I was proud to witness staff doing excellent work by postively and professioanlly representing the facility and agency to the community. Staff actively engaged with fair participants through conversation about DOC employement opportunities, DOC history and the DOC mission. I would like to thank and recognize the following staff who participated in this event: OAS Jen Decker, Medical Assistant Jessica Volkman, OAS-I Kathy Hanson, Chaplain Mike Nimesheim, HR Spec. 2 Kayla Debaere, PPD Doug Greene, Elec. Systems Supv. Cory Swenson, and Ofc. Tom Beiring.
A special thank you to OAS-S Heidi Schafer and Ofc. James Juntunen. Heidi worked dillegently to organize and coordinate MCF-Rush City's involvement at the Chisago Co. fair. Ofc. Juntunen particpated by working at the fair booth for all three days in addition to marching with RC Honor Guard in the parade. Thank you both for your dedication and great work!
-
Rush City May and June New Employee Graduation
Please congratulate the May and June academies at Rush City! They graduated on July 18.
Left to Right: Ofc. Jesse Olson (May academy), Ofc. Tyler Piekarski, Ofc. Trey Pate, Special Teacher Michelle Pautzke, CPT 2 James Martinez 
