Department Training

OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT—2017 Annual Report

Department Training

The Use of Force Unit is comprised of four instructors; Sergeant Josh Sorensen, Detective Matt Oeltjenbruns and Officers Travis Ardolf and Adam Hennen. The instructors have received specialized instructor training in SPEAR, L.O.C.K.U.P., TASER, Less Lethal, Defense against Edged Weapon Attacks and ASP curriculums.

The Owatonna Police Department has outfitted each sworn officer with an X2 Taser. Officers Ardolf and Hennen instruct on the use the tasers and take care of the maintenance and downloading of data when these units are deployed in the field. of

This year, the instructors dedicatDefensive Tactics ed four full days of mandated training to provide a minimum of eight (8) hours of continuing education to all sworn police officers and community service officers of the Owatonna Police Department. Along with the mandated training, the Use of Force Unit works with each newly appointed employee for a minimum of five hours to review policy/procedures, state statutes, and our current training curriculum. During the year, our instructors also train the Reserve Unit, as well as give presentations to include our department’s Citizen’s Academy and the Owatonna Leadership Academy groups. Looking forward to 2018, our agency plans to add another instructor at the end of the year to replace Detective Oeltjenbruns and Officer Hennen. We also plan to incorporate an online training website called Patrol Online into our use of force curriculum to expand on our current training program with micro trainings throughout the year.

Department Training

Firearms Sergeant Jason Matejcek—Coordinator Sergeants Andy Drenth & Josh Sorensen—Certified Instructors Officers Ben Johnson, Jesse Ackerson, and Andrew Van Osdale— Certified Instructors

The Owatonna Police Department’s Firearms Unit had one coordinator and five certified firearms instructors. In April of 2017, Officers Ben Johnson and Andrew Van Osdale attended and successfully completed a weeklong HTCQB (high-threat close quarters battle) instructor’s course in Albert Lea, MN. Also, the Owatonna Police Department’s Firearms Unit conducted the following: annual qualifications, chief’s Top-Shot competition, low-light/inclement weather and vehicle CQB (close quarter battle) trainings for the officers of the department. The trainings consisted of a mix of live-fire and simunition rounds.

SWAT Tactical Team

SWAT Tactical Team

In 2017, the South Central Drug Investigation Unit’s Tactical Team (SWAT) was comprised of about 23 team members from 11 different agencies within Steele, Freeborn, Waseca, and Faribault Counties. The primary goal of the tactical team is the safety and preservation of all human life. It is a support group that aids the local police departments and sheriffs offices through the use of their specialized trainings and equipment to resolve high-risk, critical incidents that are beyond the capabilities of the local authorities. All officers assigned to the tactical team maintain a high-level of proficiency through attendance of monthly ten hour training days. Assigned OPD Officers Jesse Ackerson, Zack Schumaker as well as Detectives Joel Hunt and Matt Oeltjenbruns were allowed to conduct additional six hour monthly trainings in order to comply with the National Tactical Officers Association’s training hour recommendations. Detective Oeltjenbruns was selected and appointed as a sniper for the team and in April 2017, he successfully completed the basic sniper rifle course held in Waterloo, IA. Officers participated in the annual three day Special Operations Tactical Association conference to compete against other tactical teams throughout Minnesota, and learned the latest trends in tactical techniques. The SWAT team was called out to respond to 3 incidents in 2017.