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Welcome to the Minnesota Department of Corrections staff newsletter! Current stories will be posted here, so check back often to see the latest updates.

Some stories are longer or contain additional photos. Click on story titles or "continue reading" to open the full view.

Welcome to the Minnesota Department of Corrections staff newsletter! Current stories will be posted here, so check back often to see the latest updates.

Some stories are longer or contain additional photos. Click on story titles or "continue reading" to open the full view.

  • Shout Out: Brandon Hennager and Moose Lake Carpentry Program

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    By Ian Heaslip

    MCF- Moose Lake staff helped contribute to a beautiful memorial bench to honor a coworker's family loss. Brandon Hennager and the Carpentry Program at MCF- Moose Lake did a phenomenal job with this heartfelt project!


    wooden bench swing


    wooden bench swing


    wooden bench swing

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  • Welcome Togo Academy Graduates

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    By Carla Pocket

    Travis Hanson, Food Service Supervisor and New Hire CO Blake Toldo completed Academy in July. Congratulations!

    (L-R) Lt. Brandon McComas, CO1 Blake Toldo, FS Supervisor Travis Hanson, Warden Gino Anselmo


    New Hire CO Tayea Wheeler completed Academy on August 15th.

    (L-R) Lt. Brandon McComas, CO 1 Tayea Wheeler, Captain RJ Kruse

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  • Shout Out: John Law

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    By Danelle Gorra

    John Law's technical support of Field Services delivers a distinct level of customer service from the rapid responsiveness, to the depth of troubleshooting to the care and communication in follow-up. We are so grateful to be in partnership with him and want to celebrate not only the work but the demeanor with which he does his work.

    THANK YOU JOHN LAW!

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  • Shout Out: CO Ivan Cortes Roque

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    By Anonymous

    Huge Shout Out to CO1 Ivan Cortes Roque. He worked day one of the State Fair booth. Despite being new to the agency he approached the day with excitement! He drew people into the booth, answered questions, and engaged with the visitors. He did a great job!


    Corrections employees standing at state fair table.


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  • Sgt. Mowers Nominated for Employee Recognition

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    By Melissa Paquette

    Congratulations to Sgt. Jesse Mowers for his nomination in the category of "Above & Beyond the Call of Duty". Below is his anonymous nomination submission.

    Jesse "The Detective" Mowers possesses and extraordinary ability. He reports for duty and the population deeply declines their deviant behavior. The IP population know they'll be caught tattooing, smoking, cheeking medication, transferring property, fighting, gambling, extorting, destroying property and treating each other badly.

    During his detail, Sgt. Mowers provides a predictable, decent environment where IP's can prosper. I really want to show my personal appreciation for his work ethic. Sgt. Mowers provides leadership as a member of the MCF-FRB Sergeant Committee. He provides consistency in operations through proven strategies. He is streamlining regulations for staff and the IP's for a predictable, safe environment.

    Sgt. Mowers was also assigned to assist with the MCF-FRB PREA audit. Sgt. Mowers ensured consistency in all areas of the facility. He worked hard to ensure PREA stood out in word and practice. I was taken aback by how quickly and precisely he achieved every assignment given. During his time, he also found IPs smoking, misusing medication and prevented many situations from arising into emergencies.

    I am proud to have such an extraordinary person and professional at MCF-FRB. I look forward to the continued success of Jesse "The Detective" Mowers.


    (L-R) Capt. Marty Dahlen, Sgt. Jesse Mowers & Lt. Tom Wagner

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  • MCF-Faribault Recruits at Steele County Fair

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    By Melissa Paquette

    Thank you to the MCF-Faribault staff who assisted with the recruitment booth at the Steele County Fair!


    (L-R) Lt. Matt Frantesl, Capt. Melissa Paquette, Capt. Chris Mitchell, Sgt. Joe Ernste & Sgt. Evan McColley (L-R) CO2 Austin Dalland & Capt. Marty Dahlen
    (L-R) Sgt. Jesse Mowers, Capt. Arti Cunningham, Capt. Melissa Paquette, CO1 Ethan Muell & Capt. Marty Dahlen

    (L-R) Capt. Melissa Paquette, CO2 Ethan Muell, Records Supv. Tina Bokman, Sgt. Joe Ernste, Records Director Matt Zehoski & Capt. Chris Mitchell

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  • Field Services Staff Attend Tribal State Relations Training

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    By Jacob McLellan

    Staff from the Moorhead, Detroit Lakes and ISR districts attended Tribal State Relations Training at Shooting Start Casino at the White Earth Tribal Nation August 9th and 10th. The mission of TSRT is t o provide training and education for Minnesota state employees about American Indian tribal governments, histories, cultures, and traditions, in order to empower state employees to work effectively with American Indians and promote authentic and respectful relationships between state agencies and American Indian tribes.



    Chad Christianson, Janelle Cheney, Taylor Erickson, Cameron Behm, Alex Boyd, Justin Ball, Erik Ness, Heidi Erickson, Erin Rundle, Nick Kaml, Todd Erickson
    Jennifer Johnsgaard, Charity Reese, Steve Vilhauer, Johanna Jones, Breanna Warren
    Jodi Kulik and Wendy Spry


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  • Thank You to Moorhead Probation and ISR

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    By Jacob McLellan

    Moorhead ISR (Justin Ball, Erik Ness and Alex Boyd) and Moorhead probation/SR received a thank you from Crossing Homes for their continued collaboration and dedication to client care.

    "Thank you for all you do! Our definition of a hero is someone who protects our world and continues to make it a better place, despite having to see it's darkest aspects every day. Our hero courageously puts on his or her badge each day and sacrifices more daily than most do in an entire lifetime."

    Crossing Homes is a local resource in Moorhead that helps solidify housing, support and guidance for high-risk individuals within the Moorhead and Clay County communities.

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  • Emergency Response Team Annual Training Held

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    By Jay S. Olson

    The annual Emergency Response Team training was conducted at Camp Ripley the week of August 21. According to OSI Director John Melvin “this annual training event is vital to ensure operational readiness and cross-functional interoperability. This year we focused on negotiation and diffusion."

    On Tuesday afternoon, Special Agent Michelle Frascone presented on the role and responsibilities of the BCA during the investigative process of critical incidents.

    For the first time, the Incident Management Team was incorporated into the training to ensure concept of operations, and to ensure that the IMT is better positioned to provide support to the ERT during extended activations.

    The Ohio DOC had two of their Special Tactics and Response Team (STAR) members present the entire week to observe our practices. The Ohio STAR members repeatedly commented on how impressed they were with the capabilities of our ERT, and the hospitality provided by the MN DOC. They also commented on how well designed and managed our training activities were.










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  • St. Cloud Gets New Wheels

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    By Marisol Ortega

    MCF-SCL is excited for our new patrol vehicles, a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander and a 2019 Toyota Rav4 (which is under lease). Recently, challenges were experienced with our fleet and we have sent three (3) of our vehicles to surplus due to their age and condition, which reduces our current fleet significantly. Captain Dan Raden undertook the overwhelming task of getting upgraded vehicles. The last time an outside patrol vehicle was purchase was in 2015 and Capt. Raden is hoping for at least two more in FY 2024 which will allow us to relegate our current older model vehicles to addressing other transportation needs. Once the license plates and gas cards are secured, all assigned Outside Patrol staff will be brief on the new operating procedures, and updated Post Orders and will begin to roll out in these much-needed new wheels. Capt. Raden would like to thank following personnel who help in the process of obtaining the new vehicle:

    • DOC Fleet Services staff- Scott Behrends, Amy Chamberlain.

    • ADM Fleet Services - Jason Sykes.

    • DOC CTU - Lt Ben Enerson

    • MCF- SCL Staff- Laura Firkus, Jeremy Black, Lorene Binsfeld, Veronica Langer

    • DOC Finance Services- Natalie Watters, Deborah Sullivan


    Two new cars parked next to each other.

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Page last updated: 01 Aug 2024, 10:22 AM