HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitySlick_June_2014by Lauryn Grimes, Communications Intern
Have you ever shot your gun? How fast have
you driven your car? Do you handcuff bad
guys a lot? Do you like your job?
These are some things that Edina’s elementary
students wonder about police officers and the
questions Officer Mike Seeger hears the
most, especially when he visits local
schools each spring for the Junior
Police program.
Junior Police is a friendly
introduction to the Edina
Police Department and its
officers, and much more.
“It’s to remind the
students that they are the
eyes and ears, and if they
see something that isn’t
quite right, they shouldn’t be
afraid to call and tell somebody
about it,” said City Council
Member Mary Brindle, a member of
the Edina Crime Prevention Fund and the
Rotary Club of Edina Morningside, which
together pay for the program.
Junior Police was started by the Edina
Exchange Club in the 1970s, but when the
Club dissolved, Bob Seeger – Mike’s father –
and Dave Wendt brought Junior Police to the
Rotary Club of Edina Morningside.
Junior Police was created as a way to bridge
the gap between the City’s Police Department
and the community, Brindle noted. It also
reinforces the idea of “stranger danger,” and
keeps kids safe, she said.
Seeger completed the program when he was
in elementary school and has helped continue
the program for almost 30 years.
“My dad pinned on my badge when I completed
the program, and was able to pin on my
10-year-old’s badge when he
[completed the program],” said
Seeger.
Different from Explorers,
Junior Police is geared
toward elementary
students – second- or
third-graders, depending
on what each school
decides. The program
teaches kids to “relax a
little bit” around Police
Officers and seek their help
when needed. Explorers is a
career-building program that
gives young adults between the ages
of 14 and 21 an opportunity to get a sense of
what being in law enforcement would be like.
“[The kids in Junior Police] get to see us as
people. That’s why I sit in a chair in the
classroom. I’m at eye-level,” said Seeger, who
has been recognized by students off-duty
because of his involvement with the program.
The importance of the program was underscored
a few years ago. Some elementary-aged
students were walking home from school and
escaped a potential attempted-kidnapping
incident. One student had gone through the
A newsletter for the City Council and employees of the City of Edina
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2 Around The
Water Cooler
3 Staff Notes
6|6|2014
Edina’s Junior Police Program Leads On
June 6, Debra, Administration
June 6, Douglas, Police
June 6, Eric, Police
June 6, Chad, Engineering
June 7, Karen, Administration
June 7, Cary, Community
Development
June 8, Larry, Public Works
June 9, Peter, Public Works
June 9, Thomas, Edina Liquor
June 10, Thomas,
Engineering
June 11, Debra,
South Metro
Public Safety
Training Facility
June 11, Julie, Police
June 12, Ryan,
Communications
& Technology
Services
June 16, Chad, Police
June 17, Terri, Human
Resources
Continued on Page 3 ...
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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.
Centennial Lakes Park
The Centennial Lakes
Farmers Market will be
held 3 to 7 p.m.
Thursdays June 12
through the end of September. Vendors will
set up along the walkways leading north and
south from Hughes Pavilion. The Farmers
Market will be held rain or shine!
Also, don’t forget to join us this summer for
our Movies in the Park at sunset every
Thursday. Here are some upcoming movies:
“Saving Mr. Banks,” June 12; “42,” June 19;
“Frozen,” June 26; “The Lorax,” July 3; and
“Gravity,” July 10.
Fire-Rescue & Inspections
The Edina Fire Department was called to the
6400 block of West Shore Drive shortly before
5 a.m. May 22, after receiving reports of
smoke seen from Minnesota Highway 62. Fire
crews discovered a working fire upon arrival,
which had already engulfed the home’s garage
where the fire was believed to have started.
The fire extended into the home, causing
significant damage to the structure. There was
also minor heat damage to one of the homes
next door. Edina Fire Marshal Jeff Siems said
had the home had a residential fire sprinkler
system, damage would have been minimal.
Police
On May 20, seven of our Reserve Officers
graduated from the Hennepin County Reserve
Officer School. They participated in 40 hours
of training at Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
over the past seven weeks. If you see Amber
Kittleson, Ryan Elasky, Jeff Elasky, Aleck
Williams, Dave Norr, Craig Baumeister or Ken
Varble (not pictured), please congratulate them!
Public Works
The weekend of May 30 was a busy one for
the Public Works Department. Staff delivered
nearly 3,500 sandbags to 30 homes along
Minnehaha Creek after receiving reports of
flooding in backyards and basements.
Record-setting rains across the Minnehaha
Creek Watershed District (MCWD) caused Lake
Minnetonka to rise by 5.4 inches to an all-time
record elevation of 930.66 feet above sea level
on Tuesday, June 3. That exceeds the previous
record of 930.52 set in September 2002.
As of June 3, the District was discharging
water at the Gray’s Bay dam at a rate of 300
cubic feet per second (CFS), and an estimated
additional 275 CFS of water is flowing over the
spillway north of the dam. The latest rains
have put the Twin Cities into second place for
the wettest year-to-date since 1871.
Water levels will likely remain high for some
time. Residents along the creek are encouraged
to keep any sandbags intact until Lake
Minnetonka water levels have lowered and the
City organizes a collection of the bags. Lakes
and streams across the District are still
hazardous due to high water, swift currents,
debris, impassable bridges and other dangers.
Junior Police program a few weeks prior, was able to recognize
the danger, report it and ultimately give the Police the lead
they needed to catch the predator. “Junior Police reinforces the
importance of living a safe life,” said Brindle.
Before the end of the school year, officers who lead the
Junior Police program visited almost 700 students in 10
different schools – public and private.
For more information on the Junior Police Program
contact Seeger at 952-826-1610.
Brain Hanrahan was recently promoted to
the position of Fire Inspector. Hanrahan
began his career with the City in 2000
as a Paramedic /Firefighter. He holds an
associate degree in Paramedicine and a
bachelor’s degree in Biology. Hanrahan
is currently working toward his second
associate degree, from Hennepin
Technical College, in the Fire
Science Technology program.
Justin Patterson began work on May 13
as a Community Service Officer for the
Edina Police Department. Patterson
holds a bachelor’s degree from the
University of Kansas in American
History and is currently enrolled at
Inverwood Community College, pursuing
a degree in Law Enforcement.
Dane Mosman began his role as Intern
May 21 for the Edina Police Department.
Mosman is in school to receive a degree
in Criminal Justice from Winona State
University. Mosman will be with the
Police Department until the end of August.
On May 19, Jeff Elasky was promoted
to Deputy Chief for the Edina Police
Department. Elasky began his career
with the City in 1989 as a Community
Service Officer and in 1992, he began
serving as Animal Control Officer.
Throughout the years, Elasky has held
the positions of Police Officer, Sergeant and
Lieutenant. Prior to working for the City,
Elasky worked at Scott County Sheriff’s Department as
part-time Deputy Sheriff.
On May 19, Craig Essig was promoted to
Assistant Fire Chief of Training & Safety.
Due to an organizational change within
the Fire Department, the Battalion Chief
position was eliminated and replaced
with an Assistant Chief position. Essig
joined the Fire Department in 1999 as
Paramedic/Firefighter. He was promoted to
Fire Lieutenant in 2001, Captain in 2010 and
most recently Battalion Chief in 2011.
Lauryn Grimes began work as
Communications Intern for the
Communications & Technology
Services Department May 19. Grimes
will graduate from the University of
Northwestern – St. Paul in December with
a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations.
Lee Renneke began work May 19 as
Environmental Health Specialist for the
Health Division. Renneke completed an
internship with the City last summer, but
most recently worked for the Minnesota
Department of Health as a Public Health
Sanitarian. Renneke holds a bachelor’s
degree in Food Science Technology from
the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
Jamie Cynor has resigned after serving
13 years with the City, most recently
as Senior Engineering Technician. His
last day will be June 6. He will begin
work as Materials Lab Coordinator
for the Wisconsin Department
of Transportation in its Green Bay,
Wisconsin, office June 30.
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AROUND THEWATER COOLER
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STAFF NOTES
Junior Police, Continued from Page 1
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Don’t miss Music in the Park at Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St. Bring a picnic,
lawn chairs or a blanket and settle back for a relaxing and fun evening.
All concerts are free and open to the public.
Michael Monroe 6 p.m. June 13
First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band 8:30 p.m. July 4
Patty Peterson 6 p.m. July 18
Edina Music All-Stars 6 p.m. Aug. 1
Arts & Culture
Commission
MusicInEdina.org