Firearms Instructors

PATROL DIVISION

Canine Officer

2012 was a long year for the canine unit. Bullet has begun to show his age. Bullet still participated in the yearly Patrol Dog 1 certification trial, however he was held out of the agility portion on the trial. Bullet still tallied a few felony arrests to his credit. One in particular was a suspected gang member with a serious felony warrant that was hiding in a friend’s duplex. Officers had surrounded the house. The suspect had climbed out a second floor window and was going to jump off the roof and flee. As he got to the edge of the roof, he realized that there was a K9 on scene and retreated back into the house. The subject refused to come to the door. Officer Fandel gave the subject several warnings to surrender or the dog would be sent in to apprehend him. The subject finally complied after threat of Bullet being released into the house. Bullet also had several assists outside of Owatonna. Bullet assisted Freeborn County with a track of a fleeing felon. Bullet tracked him to the shoulder of I-35 where the track was subsequently lost. Bullet also assisted Albert Lea PD with a sniff of their Alternative Learning Center as well as several narcotics sniffs at Owatonna High School and Owatonna Junior High School. 2012 marked a transition period for the canine unit as we began seeking donations from the public in anticipation of Bullet’s retirement, which will occur in early 2013. Preparations are being made to replace Officer Fandel and K9 Bullet. Officer Fox was selected as the department’s new K9 handler. Officer Fox will receive a new German Shepherd dog and both are slated to attend K9 school in St. Paul, MN in early 2013.

Police Chaplain Program

The Police Chaplain program was established in May to enhance police services in the community by providing non-denomination spiritual care and compassion to individuals in need; including, first responders involved in a critical incident and/or during a time of crisis in one’s life. Pictured are the chaplains following their first orientation and training session with Captain Mundale to help prepare them for field service call-outs. The training also provided the chaplains with knowledge and an understanding of a police officer’s role during a critical incident response and how the two services will work together. On October 15-17, Chaplains Olson, Carlson and Koeberl attended the International Conference of Police Chaplain’s in Duluth, MN. The chaplains donated 218 volunteer hours to the program this year. The Chaplains achieve these hours by participating in ride-alongs with the patrol division and for emergency call-outs. Your police department chaplains are Reverend Loren Olson, Reverend Mark Rosenau, Reverend Brent Carlson, Reverend Ron Wilson, Pastor Gena Koeberl and Parish Nurse Nancy Deetz.