C-Notes: November 22, 2024
Executive Director Report
I am happy to announce that the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation (MCPF) Board of Directors met this week and approved $81,400 in Community Partnership Grants for the 2024 grant cycle.
All applications that met the grant criteria were approved, and the MCPF Board generously increased the total amount of funding from the original $75,000 to $81,400 to support these vital initiatives.
A total of 36 grants were approved, and we are excited about the impact these funds will have in strengthening community engagement efforts across the state. In this round of applications, we saw a mix of new initiatives and the expansion of ongoing programs, demonstrating the dynamic and evolving nature of law enforcement's commitment to building and fostering meaningful community partnerships.
Below is the list of agencies that will be receiving funding as part of the 2024 Community Partnership Grant cycle:
- Aitkin PD: Community Policing Engagement Projects
- Belle Plaine PD: Hooks Lines and Heroes Fishing Derby
- Blooming Prairie PD: Elder Scam and Senior Fraud Abuse Awareness
- Bloomington PD: Trivia with Teens
- Braham PD: Pin Pals
- Brooklyn Center PD: Community Open House (Spring 2025)
- Burnsville PD: Teen Academy
- Cambridge PD: Youth Bike Rodeo
- Champlin PD: Police Explorer Post 999
- Corcoran PD: Coffee and Conversations with Cops
- Cottage Grove PD: Youth Academy
- Detroit Lakes, Frazee, Audubon, Lake Park PDs: Shop with a Cop
- Eagan PD: Youth Leadership Academy
- Edina PD: School District Collaboration on Discipline
- Glencoe PD: Community Events
- Glyndon PD: Community Outreach
- Inver Grove Heights PD: Cops and Bobbers
- Lakeville PD: Crisis Care Activity Items
- Le Sueur PD: Smart Choices Workshops
- Lewiston PD: Community Outreach Initiative
- Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie PDs: Youth Domestic Violence Prevention Education
- Mendota Heights PD: 2020 Project
- New Brighton DPS: Peace Keepers Program & Cyber Safety Class
- New Hope PD: Santa Parade
- Starbuck, Glenwood PDs, Pope Co. Sheriff's Office: Cops and Kids
- Prior Lake PD: Bike Rodeo Safety Program
- Red Wing, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota, Goodhue Co. Sheriff's Office: Skate with a Cop
- Richfield PD: Pizza with Police
- Robbinsdale PD/Hennepin Co. JCPP: Youth Builders at Robbinsdale Middle School
- Saint Paul Park PD: Community Engagement and Outreach
- Saint Peter PD: Community Thread
- Sartell PD: National Night Out
- Savage PD: Holiday Heroes
- Waite Park PD: Free Shredding and Drug Take Back Event
- West Concord PD: National Night Out
- Wyoming PD: Multicultural Advisory Committee Food Truck Festival (2025)
Approval letters and checks will be mailed out in the coming weeks.
As we continue to raise funds from our generous community donors, the Foundation will offer additional grant opportunities to police departments in the future.
Thank you to everyone who applied, and congratulations to all of the grant recipients. We look forward to hearing all our grant recipients' positive stories and outcomes.
Jeff Potts
Executive Director
MCPA Hiring an Accreditation Specialist
The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) is making significant strides in developing the Minnesota Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (MNLEAP). We anticipate launching MNLEAP in early 2025. Further details about the program and the application process will be shared soon.
MCPA is now hiring an Accreditation Specialist to support law enforcement agencies as they work towards achieving accreditation through MNLEAP. This role will play a key part in guiding agencies through the accreditation process and requirements while also supporting the MNLEAP Director and MCPA Executive Director in meeting both short-term and long-term program objectives.
If you know someone who may be interested in this opportunity, please share this job posting with them.
Extreme Risk Protection Order Now Available in eCharging Search Warrant Types
The Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) has been added to the list of search warrant types available in the eCharging system.
When a Respondent of an ERPO or Emergency ERPO refuses to voluntarily surrender firearms, law enforcement must obtain a search warrant to take possession of the firearms.
The workflow for obtaining an ERPO-related search warrant is similar to processing a general search warrant. However, law enforcement will be prompted to provide ERPO/EERPO-specific information, which will be included in the application and warrant.
Minnesota Wild Law Enforcement Appreciation Night
Law Enforcement Appreciation Night with the Minnesota Wild is almost here!
Join us on December 3 at the Xcel Energy Center as we celebrate and support the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities. Watch the Wild take on the Canucks at 7 p.m. and take advantage of this special ticket pack offer!
Each ticket pack includes a Minnesota Wild Law Enforcement-branded T-shirt, and a portion of the proceeds will support the law enforcement community.
Learn more and get your tickets at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/LEA-41203VAN.
U.S. House Passes Social Security Fairness Act
On November 12, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act – bipartisan legislation to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Currently, the WEP reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. Likewise, the GPO affects the spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees — including police officers, firefighters, and educators — if the job is not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension — often offsetting benefits entirely.
The WEP currently impacts approximately 2 million Social Security beneficiaries, and the GPO impacts nearly 800,000 retirees.
The legislation still needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate. It currently has 62 cosponsors.
Leadership Academy
MCPA's Leadership Academy is a 3.5-day course for middle management/first-line supervisors in law enforcement.
There are just a few spots remaining for the December 10-13 Academy at Camp Ripley. Register now!
You can now also register for the May 19-22 Leadership Academy, also at Camp Ripley.
SAVE THE DATE: Peer Support Training Event
