Department Training

FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM

Training Coordinator—Sergeant Tracy DuChene

Field Training Officers Joel Hunt, Matt Oeltjenbruns, Derrik Quinlan, Todd Schwanke, Luke Selvik, Andrew Van Osdale, Alex Vogel

The field training process of the Owatonna Police Department is a critical component of a successful department. New officers are put through an extensive five-phase field training and evaluation period in which they are critiqued in 18 areas of core competency. The first four phases involve an intense 16-week training period where the new officers are assigned to a field training officer. New officers spend time working at least one training phase during day, evening, and night shifts that involves coaching from several field training officers. During the fourth phase, the field training officer rides along and acts as an observer to the probationary officer. The team of field training officers are committed to the development and success of the probationers and to promoting the department’s mission as a whole. Upon successful completion of the field training program, the new police officers are certified for solo patrol duties. In 2020, newly hired Officers Zachary Plein, John Van Alstine, Jeremy Holmes-Katz, and Brandon Fandel have all successfully completed their field training program and have begun solo patrol.

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Department Training

FIREARMS

Firearms Training Coordinator Sergeant Jason Matejcek

Instructors:

Sergeants Andrew Drenth,

Joshua Sorensen, and Jason Petterson Detective Benjamin Johnson, Officers Andrew Van Osdale and Alan Callahan (appointed 2019, yet to certified) In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone and the Owatonna Police Department’s Firearms Unit was no exception. Fortunately, while planning the training schedule in late 2019, the Firearms Unit decided to combine all of the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Board mandatory firearms courses into one day. That training was completed in February 2020 and included annual and low-light/adverse weather qualifications with all three weapon systems (duty handgun, patrol rifle, and shotgun); however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, no other firearms training was done for the remainder of 2020.

The use of force instructors here with the Owatonna Police Department have received specialized instructor training in Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response (SPEAR), Law Officers Combat kinetics Unarmed Panoply (LOCKUP), TASER, Less Lethal, and Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) curriculums. Our agency has outfitted each sworn officer with an X2 Taser. Officers Travis Ardolf and Matt Oeltjenbruns instructed our Taser program. They also take care of the maintenance and downloading of data when these units were deployed in the field.

In 2020, the instructors dedicated two full days of training to all sworn police officers; however, due to COVID-19, any hands on training was foregone. In addition to sworn officers, our community service and reserve officers also received annual training from the Use of Force Unit. Along with the mandated training, the Use of Force Unit worked with each newly appointed employee for a minimum of ten hours to review department policies, state statutes, and our current training curriculum.

DEFENSIVE TACTICS

Use of Force Training Coordinator

Sergeant Josh Sorensen

Certified Instructors

Officers Matt Oeltjenbruns, Travis Ardolf and Alan Callahan

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Department Training

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Every officer must complete a minimum of 48 credits of continuing education within a three-year licensing period in order to maintain and renew their peace officer license with the Minnesota Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training. Active officers are mandated to train annually in use of force and once every five years in emergency vehicle operations/pursuit driving. Crisis intervention and mental illness crisis, conflict management and mediation, recognizing and valuing community diversity, and cultural differences to include implicit bias must consist of a combination of 16 of these continuing education credits within an officer’s threeyear licensing cycle. Reference can be found in Minn. Stat § 626.8469. It is at the agency’s discretion which law enforcement related courses that officers complete to satisfy the remainder of the required 48 hours. At the Owatonna Police Department, licensed peace officers are able to attend courses provided by many entities that are POST Board approved. However, in 2020, most in-person classes were cancelled due to social distancing requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our officers were able to complete several of the courses offered through a cost savings online program called Peace Officer Accredited Training Online.

The Mobile Field Force Unit is the newest addition to our department in 2020. This unit is made up of ten officers specifically trained to support anti-riot operations through the use of maneuver tactics that are aimed at dispersing crowds.

MOBILE FIELD FORCE

The Owatonna Police Department’s Mobile Field Force Unit is proud to train along side multiple southeast Minnesota police departments and sheriff’s offices. Our agency has outfitted each mobile field force officer with a ballistic helmet, full riot suit, shield, baton, and gas mask for their safety and protection during call-outs.

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Department Training

SCDIU TACTICAL TEAM

In 2020, the South Central Drug Investigation Unit (SCDIU) Tactical Team had a total of 28 members from the four counties of Steele, Freeborn, Waseca, and Faribault. The members of the team consisted of a commander, assistant commander, four team leaders (immediate action, deliberate action, logistics, and sniper), four assistant team leaders, three snipers, nine operators, four negotiators, four medics, and two drone pilots.

The safety and preservation of all human life is the team’s primary goal. The SCDIU Tactical Team accomplished this goal by acting as a law enforcement support unit specifically trained and equipped to resolve critical, high-risk situations. During 2020, the team was utilized on 23 call-outs with the majority to the areas of Albert Lea and Owatonna.

OWATONNA MEMBERS Sergeant Zack Schumaker—Asst Team Leader / Coordinator Officer Joel Hunt—Team Lead / Drone Operator Officer Matt Oeltjenbruns—Asst Team Leader / Sniper Officer Alan Callahan—Operator / Medic

Training

All members attended monthly 10-hour training days. The purpose was to maintain a high-level of proficiency so their expertise could be utilized on a moment’s notice. 2020 training topics were as follows:

- Tactical First Aid - Distraction Devices - Personal Protection Detail (dignitary protection) - Less Lethal - Warrant Service (CQB) - Barricaded Operations (CQB) - Vehicle Assaults - Open Field Searches - Drone Operations - Chemical Agents - Hostage Rescue

2020 Highlights

Lenco Bearcat

Left: Rounds that hit Bearcat in Albert Lea shooting

• Team leads leadership development—monthly meetings • Loss of operator—Officer Arik Matson shot while on duty in Waseca • Mutual aid relationships forged—Cannon River Valley SWAT, Austin/Mower County SWAT • CQB—worked toward entire team @ Close Quarter Battle Instructor • Bearcat—approved to take steps forward to gain funds to purchase • Officer Kody Needham shot while on duty in Albert Lea

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Department Training

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE TEAM

The DJI Matrice 210 is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) commonly known as a “drone”. It is flown and operated by a ground-based controller who has capabilities to run dual cameras which include high definition, zoom, and forward looking infrared. The UAV utilizes real-time kinetics to ensure accurate global positioning down to the centimeter and enables high precision data collection for surveying, photogrammetry, mapmaking, and so much more.

Since March of 2018, the Owatonna Police Department has operated a UAV, authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) via part 107 and waiver approvals. In 2020, the UAV Operations Policy was updated to coincide with the state of Minnesota’s newly implemented Minn. Stat § 626.19 subdivision 12: Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Our department’s policy and state statute require that a yearly report of deployments be submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). In 2020, our UAV team consisted of one sergeant and program coordinator—Jason Petterson, and three officers—Joel Hunt, Casey Martin, and Andrew Van Osdale. All the operators have completed the necessary training and testing to receive their remote operator certificates from the FAA. The team hopes to expand to include one additional operator from the police department and operators from the Owatonna Fire Department in the upcoming year. Deployments reported to the Minnesota BCA by the Owatonna Police Department Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team in 2020 included flights for search warrants, fleeing suspects on foot, and assistance to other city departments for aerial surveying and photography (above).

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