Category Shout Out Show all
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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!
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Shout Out: Sergeant Thielbar
By Cassandra Warner
Sergeant Thielbar went above and beyond training the MCF-St. Cloud overnight nursing staff. He also made sure that they felt comfortable on the shift and showed them the 1st watch staff. He also took them on tours throughout the prison and was very approachable. The 1st watch staff was welcoming and appreciative of the new overnight nursing staff.
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Shout Out: Officer Spinner
By Sherlinda Wheeler
MCF-SHK hosted several “badge ceremonies" over the past month. The reactions to receiving the badges has been very positive. The administration at MCF-SHK would like to share the following article from Officer Kimberly Spinner, one of the most positive people I have EVER met! Sherlinda Wheeler
“What the Department of Corrections Badge Ceremony meant to me"!
Upon arrival for the Badge Ceremony on January 25, 2024, I had zero expectations of what to expect other than receiving a Badge for my uniform. To my utter amazement what I witnessed was wonderful positivity, magnificent support, and love from the DOC.
This is not something you feel every day in a job like ours. I was humbled, honored and overwhelmed and found myself fighting back tears during the memorable ceremony.
Each day I come to work happy with a smile on my face, whatever happens during my shift, I deal with it, and move forward but always with a smile and a grateful heart. When my shift ends and it is time to go, I leave happy. I love my job, I love the people I work with, the Officers, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Warden, AWA's, Captains and ALL other employees at MCF-SHK, you really know how to make someone feel important and special! To receive this badge with my fellow Officers, was very uplifting and quite a gift to me. It made me feel a sense of pride in being a Corrections Officer.
Prior to the badge ceremony, I didn't have a favorite number, but since the ceremony happened on my birthday, 125 is now my favorite number. There are no truer words to describe the feeling I felt in receiving this act of legitimacy other than; PURPOSFUL, HUMBLED AND HONORED! Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve and be a humble, honored, and valued Corrections Officer.
With Heartfelt Gratitude,
MCF-SHK Officer Kimberly Spinner
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Shout Out: Ms. Jerry and Black History Month
By Shahna Fredrick, AWA
Ms. Jerry has put in a phenomenal amount of work organizing events at MCF-Shakopee during Black History Month. From researching and organizing movies, documentaries, trivia, and speakers, Ms. Jerry made it important for people to understand why this month is celebrated and the impact that African-American people have had on this country and throughout the world.
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Shout Out: DOC Incident Management Team Members
By Jay Olson
More than 100 Emergency Management professionals from across the country advanced their leadership skills in emergency management in Duluth during the week of January 29th at the Section Chiefs Academy, which takes place every three years.
The offerings focus on the Incident Command System and the Incident Management Team's core command and general staff positions – incident commander, public information officer, liaison officer, safety officer, and the section chiefs who coordinate planning, operations, logistics, and finance. 120 students from Alaska, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada attended.
AWA Ian Heaslip (ML) and Safety Administrator Ben Drilling (SCL) represented the DOC Incident Management Team (IMT). The IMT is available to manage any type of incident that qualifies under the critical mission priorities: assist command, assume command, and/or pre-event planning. The IMT is also available to the State of Minnesota as needed. According to AWO Heaslip, “during this four-day training, the role and responsibilities for the Planning Section Chief were explained in detail, including hands-on exercises to practice using the myriad of forms necessary to make the ICS process work well in a Type 1, 2, or 3 activation."
DOC Emergency Manager Amy Chamberlain stated that “this level of training ensures that the IMT maintains a high-level of readiness and preparedness for all hazards incident response consistent with FEMA and HSEM requirements."
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Shout Out: Sergeant Tim Paul
By Willow River 2nd Watch Staff
We just wanted to let Sgt. Tim Paul know how much 2nd Watch appreciates his tireless dedication to our program.
Sgt. Paul has pretty much single-handedly set up the CIP WR wood program. Our wood program not only cuts, bundles, and delivers firewood to multiple state parks, it has also delivered wood for religious programming at MCF-Moose Lake.
We truly appreciate your guidance and leadership.
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Shout Out: Shakopee MNIT Staff
By Lori Timlin
I am so grateful for our IT staff, particularly Jeanette Stodola and Matt Hetland. It can be embarassing and intimidating to ask for technology help. Jeanette is the most calm and competent person I've met, and Matt has solved some connectivity issues with little warning. So appreciated!
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Shout Out: 1st Watch Sergeants Eric Thielbar and Laura Weller
By Lieutenant Patti Miu
Not often as a supervisor do we receive kudos regarding staff. Recently received an email from a newer Corrections Officer who has worked some overtime shifts onto 1st Watch:
I wanted to let you know how helpful I have found (Sgt.) Weller and (Sgt.) Thielbar to be. They are both very good at noticing my mistakes and helping me correct them immediately. I have learned a great deal from them because they not only help me see where I went wrong but, they also explain why it was wrong and how to correct it before it becomes a problem and not just a mistake. I truly appreciate this calm and rational assistance. When you work with as many people as I do on all the different shifts, it is refreshing to not be yelled at, but coached. These two are VERY good at it.
Since you are their supervisor, I wanted to let you know that they do GREAT work, outside, their post duties. They are team players and interested in developing, not destroying what could be good employees.
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Shout Out: Lino Lakes Communications Class Instructors
By Officer Kayla Snustad
I wanted to take some time and shout out Kristina Stier and Samantha Godeen for their great job teaching Communications class in Lino Lakes this week! it was a full class and this was their first time teaching the class! Well done ladies!!!
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Shout Out: Heather Sanden
By FS Admin - Melissa Greiner, Genevieve Wilkens, Becca Clemens-Wells
The FS Admin Team has been diligently working on a very lengthy Minnesota Department of Revenue Audit for the past 10 months. With the transition of Meeker County to DOC there was a large sum of prior claims that needed to be updated within MNDOR system to abide by current Statute of Limitation rules.
Without missing a beat, Heather volunteered to take on the task of updating over 300 claims in MNDOR and assuring that our system reflected the correct information as well. It was no small task and was a huge help to us.
Thank you so much Heather, for your amazing and speedy work!
