HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitySlick_August_2014by Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Many hearts are heavy after the death of one
of Edina’s finest. Detective Don Enger died
July 24, at the age of 73.
Enger passed away
at his home in
New Richmond,
Wisconsin,
surrounded by his
friends and family.
Retired Edina
Deputy Chief
Sylvester “Chip”
Schwartz was
Enger’s partner.
“He had an
absolutely
keen mind for
recognizing
criminal behavior.
He was dogged
in his pursuit for
people who were
committing crimes,” explained Schwartz.
“He kept a positive attitude just about all of
the time and he really endeared himself to
victims by really feeling what they felt.”
Enger started his career with the City of
Edina. He began in the Parks & Recreation
Department when he was 18. After attending
St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State
University, Mankato, he took a position in
the Engineering Department for about three
years. Finally, he found the job he was meant
to have; Enger accepted a position with the
Edina Police Department on Jan. 1, 1966.
Enger served in the Edina Police Department
for 31 years before retiring in 1997. During
this time, Enger worked on homicide, home
invasion and gambling ring cases.
“He took me for the
wildest ride I ever
went on,”
remembered
Schwartz.“We were
following a suspect
for a cocaine deal
back in the 80s. He
took me down 212
and down through
Shakopee. I was just
petrified. He slid the
car into a couple
corners on purpose,”
he said with a laugh.
He added, “He was
absolutely the most
loyal friend you could
have, absolutely.”
Following his career with Edina, he took the
position of Homicide Detective with the
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
(BCA), where he worked from 1997 until
2001. While in this position, he worked on a
number of high-profile homicide cases,
including those of Katie Poirier and Cally Jo
Larson. Following his time with the BCA,
Enger began work as a Detective for the
Ramsey County Sheriff Special Investigations
Unit until he retired again in 2004.
A newsletter for the City Council and employees of the City of Edina
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2 Around The
Water Cooler
3 Staff Notes
7|31|2014
Edina Hero Passes Away
Aug. 1, Cassi, Human
Resources
Aug. 2, Adam, Police
Aug. 5, Sharon, Engineering
Aug. 6, Ted, Centennial Lakes
Park
Aug. 8, Jacob, Police
Aug. 9, Mike, Fire-Rescue &
Inspections
Aug. 12, Tom, Braemar Golf
Course
Aug. 13, Dominic, Fire-
Rescue & Inspections
Aug. 13, Joel, Police
Aug. 13, Don, Public Works
Aug. 15, Michael, Police
Aug. 15, Joel, Fire-Rescue &
Inspections
Aug. 18, Jackie, Community
Development
Aug. 18, Mark, Police
Aug. 20, Scott,
Communications &
Technology Services
Aug. 21, Dan, Public Works
CITYSLICK p1
Edina Hero, Continued on Page 4
Su
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Detective Don Enger served in the Edina Police Department for 31 years.
He passed away peacefully at his home on July 24, 2014.
Following is a summary of some of the projects of some departments, divisions and
facilities. Other areas of the City will be featured in upcoming issues.
Administration
Share Your Feedback
City leadership is asking all full-time
employees to complete an employee
engagement survey during the weeks of Aug. 4
and 11. The purpose of the survey is to
measure levels of engagement across the
organization and identify areas that require
additional attention. We hope that you will be
honest and open with your feedback. Like the
Quality of Life Survey, the engagement survey
will be conducted every two years to gauge
progress. Most employees will receive a survey
link directly from DecisionWise. Some
employees in the Public Works Department
will receive paper surveys due to limited
computer access.
For more information on the survey, visit
Extranet.EdinaMN.gov.
IQS Interview
Team
“To make the best
hiring decision
possible by
thoroughly vetting
candidates with
respect to the
City’s values of
Integrity, Quality and Service.” That’s the
purpose of the new Edina IQS Interview Team.
The City seeks up to 25 participants for its first
team and expects to select a second in 2015.
Joining the IQS Interview Team is a perfect
opportunity for City employees to experience
the other side of the interview table. The IQS
Interview Team will interview all finalists for
full-time positions and will focus exclusively
on determining the candidate’s fit relative to
the Edina IQS.
For more information or to apply, visit
Extranet.EdinaMN.gov.
Police
Night to Unite
Every year, the state of Minnesota joins
together to celebrate Night to Unite the first
Tuesday of August. This year, the annual event
will take place in neighborhoods and parks
around Edina on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
In conjunction with the neighborhood
celebrations, the Edina Police Department will
host its third-annual Night to Unite party for
residents from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rosland Park,
4300 W. 66th St.
Feel free to join us and bring your family out
for a fun night! Night to Unite was created to
promote neighborhood spirit, increase
awareness in crime prevention and build a
stronger partnership between the Police
Department and community members.
Blood Drive
Donate blood to support your Police
Department! The Memorial Blood Center is
challenging fire and police departments from
the Twin Cities to participate in the “Battle of
the Badges,” a competitive, yet friendly blood
drive.
As part of the Battle of the Badges, the Edina
Police Department will sponsor a blood drive
from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6,
in the Council Chambers at Edina City Hall,
4801 W. 50th St.
Officers, firefighters, friends, family and the
greater community are encouraged to donate
blood in honor of their favorite police or fire
departments. The department with the
greatest percent of participation wins.
To sign up, call Police Intern Dane Mosmon at
952-826-1616
Explorers
Thirteen Edina/Eden Prairie Explorers recently
attended the National Explorer Conference in
Bloomington, Indiana, with 2,000 Explorers
from throughout the country participating. The
Edina/Eden Prairie Explorer received the
following individual awards:
• 1st place – Police Exam and Physical
Fitness Testing, awarded to Explorer Alex
Geiger
• 2nd place – Police Exam Category, awarded
to Explorer Katie Kline
More than 750 Explorers took the Police Exam
test and only four received a perfect score. Of
those four, two were Edina/Eden Prairie
Explorers. The Edina/Eden Prairie Post No. 925
CITYSLICK p2
AROUND THEWATER COOLER
In t egri ty. Qualit y. S ervi ce.IQ SEdina
On June 7, Tom Draper was promoted to
a Lieutenant in the Police Department.
Draper began his career with the Police
Department in 1995 and was promoted
to Sergeant in 2002.
On June 23, Brian
Tholen was promoted to
a Lieutenant for the Police Department.
Tholen began his career with the Police
Department in 1996 and was promoted
to Sergeant in 2005.
Joe Abood began work as General Manager
of Braemar Golf Course July 7. For the
last 15 years, Abood has worked at
KemperSports Management in New
Jersey. For the last six years, Abood
was responsible for the management of
county-owned golf recreational facilities,
including two 27-hole golf courses, a conference
and banquet facility and a practice and instruction facility. He
holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in
Business Administration.
Paul Froiland began work as
Maintenance Operations Coordinator at
Edinborough Park July 8. Froiland most
recently worked as the Lead Building
Maintenance/Custodian for the City of
Monitcello, Minnesota.
Bradley Alto and Philip Erickson began
work as Building Inspector Interns for
the Building Inspections Division July
21. Alto holds bachelor’s degrees from
the University of Minnesota in History
and Psychology and a Law Enforcement
degree from Minnesota State University. He
also holds a vocational degree from North
Hennepin Community College in Building
Inspection Technology. Erickson holds a
master’s degree from North Dakota State
University in Architecture.
is open to young men and women ages 14 (who
have completed 8th grade) through 20 who have an
interest in learning more about a career in law
enforcement.
Engineering
Work on France Avenue is steadily moving along!
Work began in April to improve the France Avenue
corridor in the greater Southdale area with the goal
of making it easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to
navigate the region. As part of the project, the
intersections of 66th, 70th and 76th streets and
France Avenue are being improved.
Work on the 70th Street intersection is wrapping up
and 66th Street will be done soon. Construction
crews have begun work at the 76th Street
intersection, removing the free-right turn lanes. The
entire project is expected to be complete this fall
with the exception of some landscaping. Please use
caution when navigating the area.
Economic Development
The City is working to make the parking ramps at
50th & France cleaner, brighter, safer and more
convenient with improvements that began early this
summer. As part of the project, parking ramps will
receive new lights, fresh paint and general repairs.
Sidewalk pavers will also be replaced and landscaping
improved. One of the most noticeable differences
will be new wayfinding signs. The dynamic signs will
help drivers find available parking and notify drivers
when a ramp is full and direct them to a ramp with
capacity. Work will wrap up in October, in time for
the holiday shopping season. Construction will
continue with Phase 2 in 2015 to add an elevator to
the South Ramp.
CITYSLICK p3
STAFF NOTES
Megan Davis began part-time
work as Graphic Designer for the
Communications & Technology
Services Department July 22. Davis
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in
Graphic Design. She previously worked
as a Marketing, Design and Events Assistant for Twin
Cities Orthopedics and a Graphic Design Intern for the
University of Minnesota’s Department of Recreational
Sports.
Andrew Scipioni began work as
an Engineering Technician with
the Engineering Department July
28. Scipioni graduated from Eagan
High School and attended Michigan
Technological University. He plans to
complete his bachelor’s degree in Civil
Engineering in the near future. Prior to beginning work
for the City of Edina, Scipioni was an intern in the City
of Eagan’s Engineering Department from 2011 to 2013.
In May, he began an internship with the City of Edina,
assisting the Engineering Technicians with construction
staking, topographic surveying and inspecting street utility
cut locations.
Previously an Intern for the Engineering
Department, Joseph Totten has
accepted the part-time position
of Traffic Safety Coordinator for
the Engineering Department. He
transitioned to this new position on
July 28. Totten attends the University of
Minnesota and will graduate in the spring
of 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and
Urban Studies.
The Police Department recently
promoted three of its Police Officers,
Brian Hubbard, Ryan Schultz and
Aaron White, to the position of
Sergeant. Hubbard began work for the
City in 2007 and most recently served
as a School Resource Officer. Schultz
started with the Police Department
in 1999 as a Police Explorer and
was later hired as a Community
Service Officer and then an Officer
in 2007. Schultz most recently worked
as a Field Training Officer. White has
been working as an Officer for the
Police Department since 2006, but
most recently served as a School
Resource Officer.
ANNIVERSARIES
Steve Hamer, Public Works, 20 years.
(Aug. 29, 1994)
Shawn Anderson, Public Works, 15 years.
(Aug. 30, 1999)
Steve Kiehn, Fire-Rescue & Inspections, 15 years.
(Aug. 16, 1999)
Jim Schmidt, Public Works, 10 years.
(Aug. 2, 2004)
Edina Hero, Continued from Page 1
CITYSLICK p4
“I like to call him one of the old-time Edina crime fighters,”
Rofidial said. “He didn’t want to advance himself or make
himself look good. He just wanted to track down bad guys
and be the voice for victims.”
The name “Don Enger” elicits a great deal of respect in law
enforcement circles around Minnesota and the nation. So
much so that when he was in the hospital in the weeks
before his death, over 200 people paid him a visit.
“He was not a person of fanfare. He was a very unassuming
person, but yet he did a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff and
he touched a lot of people that way,” explained Rofidal.
“People knew the kind of work he did behind the scenes
for the community and the victims.”
Enger was fortunate to have had several moments enjoying
his farm in his final days and appreciated watching his
horses and the hay being baled. Enger will be cremated at
Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. There will be a
celebration of life and faith Monday, Aug. 4, with a
visitation starting at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. service
at Bethany Lutheran Church in Star Prairie, Wisconsin.
For more information, contact Rofidal at 952-826-0483 or
KRofidal@EdinaMN.gov