C-Notes: September 12, 2024
Executive Director Report
We are excited to announce that the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation (MCPF) is now accepting applications for its 2024 Community Partnerships Grant Program.
This funding opportunity is designed to help agencies strengthen trust and build deeper partnerships with your community. Community Partnerships Grants aim to support, supplement, initiate, and accelerate a police department’s efforts to engage with the community in meaningful ways. All events, projects, programs, and initiatives submitted for consideration must have the purpose of building relationships, trust, transparency, cooperation, or partnerships with the communities you serve.
View the application information packet to learn more about grant eligibility and criteria and apply online by the deadline of November 4, 2024. All MCPA member agencies are encouraged to apply. Visit mnchiefs.org/community-grants to learn more, or contact Acacia Huss-Zirzow or me if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Jeff Potts
Executive Director
Register Now for the Critical Issues Series
This fall's MCPA Critical Issues Series will be held on October 9, 16, and 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. The series will be virtual, so everyone can attend without having to travel. The presentations will be recorded so you can share them with your department. We have an excellent lineup of presentations this year. Topics include:
- The Ideal Wellness Program for First Responders. Three common elements can drive the best outcomes for first responder wellness. This talk describes these three components and highlights how they work together.
- Media Propaganda/Crisis Communications Plan. This presentation will prepare you and your agency for crisis. The importance of developing a communications plan is critical to your agency.
- Legislative Leader Panel. We will hear from the leaders of the House and Senate on issues they see as their priorities for the upcoming session as well as a focus on public safety-related legislation.
- ERPO Firearms confiscations. What every agency should know about the new ERPO law and how to handle firearm confiscations.
- Self-Defense Supreme Court Decision. This Supreme Court decision is huge. You will want to hear how it will reshape self-defense claims and provide important advice on investigations by your agency.
- Bias and De-Escalation. Dr. Shawn Moore will provide the most tips and trends on Bias and De-escalation training. This is a POST-required training for all Police officers, and Dr. Moore is one of the top trainers in the nation.
Office of Civil Rights Data Request
Please be on the lookout in the next couple weeks for a letter from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MDHS) asking for your assistance to respond to a data request received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
The request is tied to a complaint filed by the NAACP with OCR regarding the disproportionate representation of African American children in the child welfare/child protection system. OCR is asking us to provide information about the role of local law enforcement in the child protection process.
MDHS is asking you to respond to a series of questions with data specific to your law enforcement agency by Friday, October 11, 2024. MDHS has created a OCR Data Request Webpage containing more background information and an FAQ section for law enforcement agencies.
MDHS plans to follow up this letter with an email reiterating the request and will host technical assistance webinars on September 10 and 12 to answer questions about the request.
Women in Law Enforcement Event
Police Chief Opening in Becker, MN
The city of Becker is recruiting a full-time Police Chief for leadership, direction and hands-on management of its Police Department. The successful candidate must have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration or a related field and have a minimum of five years of experience as a law enforcement officer with law enforcement supervisory background. Candidate must be licensed by the State of Minnesota P.O.S.T. Board or be eligible and have thorough knowledge of police administration and police department operations. Candidate will be required to pass a psychological exam, background check and fitness agility test. Salary range is $112,944-$146,806.40 dependent on qualifications and experience. Becker has an excellent benefit package including PERA retirement, employer paid health insurance, health savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, long term disability insurance.
Submit cover letter, application, supplemental questions and resume by Monday, September 30 to City of Becker, Attn: Shannon Mortenson, PO Box 250, Becker, MN 55308 or email to smortenson@ci.becker.mn.us.
Learn more at https://www.ci.becker.mn.us/Jobs.aspx.
Minnesota Wild Law Enforcement Appreciation Night
Message for CLEOs About New MCPA Portal
There are CLEO-specific features in our MCPA member portal. Below are the details outlined.
The Member Compass section under Resources has elements on the left side panel that are only available to you as the CLEO:
- Company. This section includes the basic information about your agency. You can go there to edit out the profile by adding your agency's website, logo, social media accounts, etc. This agency information provided will show in Member Directories and searches.
- People. This section shows you everyone with a login associated with your agency. It includes both MCPA members and non-members who might access our website to register for trainings, purchase permits, etc. As the CLEO, you can edit the information for anyone affiliated with your agency, remove them, or give them management access like you have to these management functions.
Please note that giving someone management access does NOT make them an MCPA member, so you can have an Executive Assistant or other non-sworn staff member manage your people and bills on the MCPA website. - Account History. This section shows all the financial transactions for everyone in your agency. Non-CLEOs can only see their own transactions, but you can see everything.
Where do you want your invoices sent?
The new system defaults to sending all invoices to the CLEO via email; however, you can assign a Billing Contact to receive them instead. The Billing Contact can be someone in your finance office if you'd like.
MCPA staff needs to set up the Billing Contact for you, so please fill out this form to give us the contact information, if you'd like to do this.
MCPA Member Portal and Website Resources
Resources for creating and managing your new account can be found at mnchiefs.org/news/novi-ams-member-resources. If you have any questions, please contact info@mnchiefs.org at any time.
We are confident MCPA's upgraded website and portal will be a valuable resource for our members and web visitors.