Hotline Online

By Amanda Freese

Please donate vacation time if you can to Arlene Duff.

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.

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!

By Melissa Paquette

Tina Bokman joined the DOC in September 2016, where she developed experience in the Behavioral Health Unit at Faribault.

In 2018, she transitioned to the Sentence Administration Unit (SAU) where she served as a sentence administrator. In June 2023 she accepted the WOOC Faribault Records Supervisor and recently accepted the permanent position.

Tina brings a wealth of records/sentencing knowledge and experience to the position.

Congratulations Tina!

By Pamela Rubash

PFA, which is fully funded by non-government dollars, works with incarcerated men and women to explore their identity and the factors that shaped them, to examine faulty thinking, and to form new goals. Based on decades of experience and best practice learning methodology, Prison Fellowship Academy is a voluntary program IPs can choose which encourages participants to replace criminal thinking and behaviors with renewed purpose and values based on the life principles of integrity, responsibility, affirmation, productivity, restoration and community. (www.prisonfellowship.org/about/academy/)

On December 19, 2023 the year-long, 300+ hour, transformational journey came to an end with a graduation celebration for Class 35. Pictured above are 11 of the 13 graduates with their instructor, PFA Program Manager Pamela Rubash. For some of them the next step was release and the ability to join a PFA Alumni Network on the outside. For some graduates, the next step is the Challenge Incarceration Program or working toward a higher education degree or certification. All graduates still housed within MCF-SHK have joined the Prison Fellowship Academy Graduate Leadership program where they will continue their transformational journey and also dedicate time and energy to service projects for the prison and PODs in which they reside.

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.

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!!!

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!

By Kristin Lueken

Please join us in welcoming and congratulating Shelbi Groath, who has accepted the Exec II position at Central Office assisting Assistant Commissioner Eddie Miles.

Shelbi joined the department upon completing her bachelor's degree in both Criminal Justice and Management from Rasmussen College. Commencing her tenure as a corrections officer at MCF-Stillwater in 2020, she has since distinguished herself by undertaking work out of class appointments in both the Health Services Unit and the Hearing and Release Unit. Shelbi's active involvement in various committees and comprehensive training sessions has significantly enriched her contributions to the department.

Notably, she served as the SORT CAT at MCF-Stillwater, showcasing her leadership capabilities, and she is also CIT trained, exemplifying her commitment to continuous professional development. Beyond her professional endeavors, Shelbi finds joy in woodworking and spends quality time outdoors with her wife and dogs during her leisure moments.

Congratulations Shelbi! Congratulations

By Jay Olson

Eighteen (18) Tactical Medics graduated from the 40-hour Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course that was conducted at Central Office from January 22 to 26.

EMS Instructors from the Hennepin County Medical Center – EMS Education / TEMPO Program conducted the training, which included instruction in Airway Management, Behavioral Emergencies, Bloodborne Pathogens, CPR, Medical Emergencies, Wound Care Management, Trauma, and Toxicology. The training is consistent and compliant with requirements of the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Response Board. HCMC Lead Instructor Mark Cusick stated that the “DOC Medics had the highest overall point score of any class that has completed this program."

SORT Academy Coordinator Lt. Karl Krippner and OSI Director John Melvin were on hand during the graduation ceremony to provide congratulatory remarks. OSI Director Melvin stated that “this training ensures that all DOC Medics are uniformly trained, using national standard tactics and techniques."

Graduates included, Connor Borash (SCL), Mike Brown (STW), Mike Goodhart (LL), Chris Gullickson (LL), Timothy Hansen (RC), Eric Haskamp (SHK), Jay Kopel (SCL), Jason Koshiol (SCL), Brandon Leatherberry (ML), Austin Lipphardt (RW), Frank McGraw (OPH), Samuel Moore (STW), Timothy Pirila (ML), Nicole Riemenschneider (STW), William Schmidt (SHK), Zina Siruk (OPH), Shanon Stitt (SHK), and Justin Watrin (RC).