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At the county board meeting on March 26, Sheriff Nate Stadler reported that the county has received $268,000 in public-safety- related aid from the state, which he hopes to invest in two projects.
The first: new body-worn cameras for deputies and jailers. While this is not a state requirement, Stadler anticipates that it will be, and the dollars are available now. According to Stadler, there is a deterrent aspect of cameras when it comes to litigation. “When we first got squad car cameras,” he told the LCP, “I asked for one. Those cameras would keep you out of court.” He said that often people looking to contest their traffic tickets would drop the case once they knew that a squad camera had been used.
Stadler said that they are already in the process of replacing the current squad car camera/body microphone which don’t work when the officer is separated from his/ her car. T he new audio-visual system will work even if the officer is away from the car. Stadler cautions that while it does give a more accurate picture of the encounter, it’s not perfect. “If I turn my head, it won’t pick up what I see, but what is in front of me,” since it is mounted on the chest.
Law enforcement have used the system before, but it was pulled when the Minnesota legislature began to grapple with all the complexities around who could access the evidence, and how. After streamlining the laws around it and clarifying when it can be accessed by the public, it has been re-introduced. It creates much more evidence that the county attorney’s office will be responsible for—a fact that was not lost on the commissioners at the meeting. County Attorney Russ Conrow stated that his office was already researching the least expensive software option to store footage and make it available when lawful to do so.
Commissioner Rick Hogenson, who is also the Police Chief of the city of Two Harbors, spoke strongly in favor of the purchase. “They are not a want; they are a need. I’m glad the public safety dollars exist. Otherwise, the county would have to absorb this,” he commented.
Was this also a measure to monitor officers, to hold them accountable? While that is an obvious effect of cameras, “I’m not worried about people not doing their jobs,” Stadler stated firmly. He sees it as a win-win safety for officers and the public alike. “It’s expensive, so now’s the time—when the state is offering us the money.”
According to state law and because of its effect on the public and the county budget, public hearings are required before any cameras are bought. The hearing for the Silver Bay police department cameras will be on April 15 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The sheriff’s department hearing will be at the Human Services building at 2:00 p.m. on April 23, during the regular county board meeting.
Wellness priority for law enforcement deputies and jailers The sheriff’s office has obtained a grant to implement an Employee Wellness program that sheriff Nate Stadler hopes will provide deputies, jailers, and staff with resources to manage emotional challenges that arise at work. Studies show that police officers spend time in highly stressful situations and witness highly disturbing scenes, often without the time afterwards to process what happened. “You must always handle it and move on,” says Stadler. “It builds up.” He gave an example of a dispatcher who is on a disturbing phone call which then gets disconnected, leading to feelings of extreme helplessless. Historically, he says, “we are the tough ones who don’t need help. Well, yes we do.” According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a branch of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), law enforcement rates of suicide and depression are amongst the highest, behind only medical doctors and dentists.
Stadler’s proposal is to contract with a licensed local counseling center (Two Rivers Counseling) and require every employee to participate in a single counseling session on paid work time and free of charge. I f t he employee finds it helpful, three more counseling sessions will be offered annually, also free of charge but not on work time. Historically and according to similar programs, Stadler said, about 15% of employees may choose to continue with the counseling. After the four sessions, employees are free to use the regular county assistance program to get counseling services. Stadler estimated that this service would cost about $10,000 in 2024.
Most commissioners spoke in favor of this service. Commissioner Joe Baltich questioned the amount of extra money, wondering if the county assistance wasn’t enough. Administrator Matt Huddleston commented that such a plan was more likely to be used than the county assistance program which requires more initiative. Stadler agreed, adding that he had also explored a phone app but wasn’t confident it would be used. “Just speaking for myself,” he said, “I’m much more likely to talk to a person than go searching on my phone if I need help.” Commissioner Rick Goutermont commented, “Twenty years ago this might not have worked. But times have changed.” Stadler agreed, noting that the deputies all appeared to be in favor. He noted also that the owners of Two Rivers Counseling, the proposed counseling agency, have direct family ties to law enforcement and that other law enforcement entities in our region already contract with them, increasing the possibility of effective counseling for the particular type of stress that law enforcement employees endure.
