Category St. Cloud Show all
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Shout Out: Supporting New St. Cloud Staff
By Lori Korts
We would like to give a Shout Out to the staff listed below for their support of new staff.
Thank you to Sgt. Frank, Officer Braun, Sgt. Cherne and Officer Cherne for their willingness to take time with new staff, as well as their professional and personal approach to training new staff.
Also, a shout out to Phil Trana in the Food Service Area for his kindness and efficiency with which he provides introduction, training, and assistance to staff as they begin their work in the food services area. The hands on, step-by-step guidance he provides is much appreciated.
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Welcome St. Cloud May Academy Graduates
By Marisol Ortega
Congratulations to St. Cloud's newest graduating academy!
Left to Right: AWO Sarah Rykken, Capt. Jamie Holm, CO Laramy Walker, CO Tobi Olawore, CPT Matt Frangier, CO Brad Dollar, CO Nick Kine and Lt. Carl Krippner. -
St. Cloud Recognized National Crime Victims' Rights Week
By Sarah Rykken
MCF-St. Cloud recognized this year's National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW), held nationally from April 23-29, 2023, by hosting a Clothesline Project, and giving a donation to an organization that works directly with victims of crime.
Annually, Violence Free Minnesota, a statewide coalition to end relationship abuse, create safety and achieve social justice for all, releases a new edition of the Clothesline Project, a visual memorial to the past year's victims of intimate partner homicide. The project consists of a unique shirt to honor each victim, designed by a volunteer artist, or by a family member or friend in honor of their loved one. The shirts are then hung on a clothesline and displayed in a public location, to pay tribute and honor those that lost their lives in Minnesota due to intimate partner violence. MCF-St. Cloud paid tribute and honor on April 26, 2023, to those we lost in 2022.
On May 9, 2023, MCF-St. Cloud Restorative Justice Representatives and Incarcerated Individuals from the Peer Mentor group presented a donation to staff from Anna Marie's Alliance, a domestic abuse shelter located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The goal of Anna Marie's Alliance is “to provide women who are experiencing domestic abuse and their children with a safe place to stay and the resources they need. Through systemic change, we aim to create a community where violence is not tolerated, and where every home is a safe one." Due to fundraising efforts at MCF-St. Cloud, a donation of $500 was made!
(L to R), Case Manager Laura Thielen (RJ Rep.), WOOC AWA Sarah Rykken (RJ Rep.) – Back (L to R), Warden Eddie Miles, Teacher Ben Murphy (RJ Rep.), CPD Travis Schlangen. 
Incarcerated individuals from the Rivers and Reshape Chemical Dependency treatment programs attended the event, and processed in conjunction with other Victim Impact related curriculum. 
Anna Marie’s Alliance (AMA) accepted a $500 donation from Restorative Justice (RJ) fundraising efforts done at St. Cloud. Pictured are AMA staff, RJ Representatives Laura Thielen, Ben Murphy, and Sarah Rykken, along with peer mentors who assisted with the fundraisers. -
St. Cloud CPT Eric Trudell Nominated for Employee Recognition
By Marisol Ortega
Please join us in congratulating CPT Eric Trudell in his nomination by a peer for an Employee Recognition Award in the category of Outstanding Individual Performance for FY 2023. The nomination reads:
"Eric Trudell has worked incessantly to build the Incarcerated Persons Mentor Program since its inception. He has initiated policies and procedure to make this program a success. He has build a team that is inspired by his persistency and consistency. He has personally taken on the responsibility to formulate a training curriculum and train the mentors on how to help the incarcerated population navigate prison. This has made the IP's transition to prison a lot easier as evidenced by the weekly number of kites responses thanking the mentors. Eric Trudell is deserving of an Outstanding Individual Performance award as he has built this program from the ground up."
L-R: CPT Eric Trudell, Warden Eddie Miles -
Shout Out: St. Cloud PPL Staff
By Laura Firkus
After not seeing a bulk tablet shipment since December, in one fell swoop we received cases and cases of tablets to the tune of 300 backlogged units recently.
Immediately Ofc. Jason Krueger wrapped up what he was working on kicking into high gear and went right to work separating the tablets for IP's that had already transferred. Some were ready for the very next day's transport bus. Over the next couple of days both he and Ofc. Adam Gulden were engraving away and entering the details into COMS to where Ofc. Krueger was able to start distribution on a unit by unit basis. All but two units were completed prior to his being off a couple of days.
During this time Ofc. Gulden continued the engraving efforts and Sgt. Mehgon Hanlon from our loading dock stepped up to offer a hand with the COMS entries. Together the two of them got the last of them completed to where the last two units received their tablets shortly after.
Thank you Jason, Adam, and Mehgon for applying the philosophy of teamwork at its BEST!!
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St Cloud's Iten promotes to Sergeant
By Marisol Ortega
Congratulations to Sam Iten in his promotion to Sergeant! Sgt. Iten has been with the department for 12 years. He is a current member of the SORT team since 2014 and instructs Batons for the SORT team here at St. Cloud. He is also a member of the uniform committee and took the position of Utility Sgt on 3rd watch where he works in many different positions with a myriad of staff. Sgt. Iten is happy to advance his career within the DOC and to be in a position of leadership.
Capt. K. Krippner, Sgt. S. Iten and Lt. M. Poppen 
Capt. K. Krippner, Sgt. S. Iten and Lt. M. Poppen -
St. Cloud Welcomes April Academy
By Marisol Ortega
SCL is proud to congratulate this month's graduating academy.
Corrections Officers: Justin Peterson, Tyler Hanratty, Wesper Sieh, Janice Shorts and Katie Stossel.
Corrections Program Therapist: Tara Katchmark and Ned Scheider.
Office & Administrative Specialist: Lorene Binsfeld.
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St. Cloud Promotes Berg to Lieutenant
By Marisol Ortega
Daniel Berg began his career with the DOC in October of 2009 and has owned and operated a Licensed Security Company in Minnesota since 2014. He will be working as the 3rd watch Watch Commander. What motivated him to make the jump to Lieutenant?
“I believe we have an amazing executive leadership team which I wanted to work closer with and to support the creative development and direction at our facility".
If I may add a quote: “Don't underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces, able to transform what might appear to be unconquerable obstacles into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities." -Dr. Jordan Peterson
Congratulations Dan!
L to R: Captain Karl Krippner, Lt. Daniel Berg and Captain Lori Korts
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St. Cloud Promotes Hurd to Sergeant
By Marisol Ortega
In 2013, Sgt. Aric Hurd started as a CO at MCF- Rush City. Accumulating a total of 10 years as an officer, he has experience working units, as well as working 2nd watch A-Team for the last 4 years. His new position is 3rd watch, Living Unit B Sgt.
When asked about his promotion, Sgt. Hurd said, “I was motivated to be a Sgt. to use my experience to help new and younger staff succeed."
Congratulations Sgt. Hurd!
L to R: Captain Karl Krippner, Sgt. Aric Hurd and Lt. Michael Poppen
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Shout Out: St. Cloud's Librarian Sara Stueve
By Sarah Rykken
As part of the large pilot, MCF-St. Cloud was tasked with doing approximately 108 Self-Reported Assessments (SRA), which feeds an Assessment Summary Report, used as a tool to assist in recommending programming and facility placement. While a long-term mechanism for completing SRA's is being developed, when asked for the pilot, Sara stepped up to take this on, utilizing computers in the law library.
Not only did Sara take on the role of assisting 108 incarcerated persons to complete this assessment, she was also instrumental in answering questions about the pilot and providing feedback collected by those participating in this new process. Completing the SRA not only assisted staff at St. Cloud through the pilot, but at the transfer facilities, in varying departments, as well and will assist in informing future planning and decision-making. As the pilot begins to wrap-up at St. Cloud, she has also agreed to assist with surveys.
Her willingness to assist and go above and beyond is so appreciated. Thank you Sara!
