Roll Call: CHPD Podcast

Office Supervisor Karen Olson joins the podcast to reflect on her 35+ years with the City of Columbia Heights. Karen has worked with the Columbia Heights Police Department since 1985 in several capacities, including as office supervisor since 2010. From scheduling swearing-in ceremonies to overseeing office staff, Karen has been the department's heartbeat for numerous years.

Co-host Will Rottler, along with Columbia Heights Police Sergeant Jason Piehn and Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula, have a discussion with Brian Hubbard, President of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association.

Columbia Heights Boys Basketball Head Coach Willie Braziel joins this episode of Roll Call to discuss basketball, growing up in North Minneapolis, the importance of being a mentor and partnering with the Columbia Heights Police Department.

Pat Sukhum, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities, joins the Roll Call podcast team to chat about the success of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Columbia Heights and how people can get involved with the program.

Will Rottler takes over as co-host for Roll Call and is joined by a new member of the Columbia Heights Police Department, Joe Poublanc, who will be entering the Pathways to Policing program.

Along with Will and Joe, Captain Matt Markham, Investigator Tabitha Wood, and Officer Shelby Tombers talk about being authorized for 30 officers, working in Columbia Heights, and being part of the community.

In his last episode as co-host, Communications Coordinator Ben Sandell speaks with Police Chief Lenny Austin on community policing, training and recruitment, and the past and future of Roll Call.

In this episode, the Roll Call team talks with Chief Public Defender for the Minnesota Tenth Judicial District Virginia Murphrey. Virginia offers her insights on the right to a speedy trial, biases in the courtroom, and the best ways to reform the legal system.

In Part 3 of our series on human trafficking, we speak with Anoka County detectives Matt Aker and Mike Schantzen who both have extensive backgrounds working in human trafficking cases. We talk about a few recent cases of human trafficking in Columbia Heights and Fridley and discuss the signs and psychology of human trafficking. This is the third and final episode of Roll Call devoted to this topic. Content warning: Some details in this podcast are disturbing, but we hope it brings more understanding and awareness to this very real issue. Thank you for listening.

Picking up where the last episode ended, this episode features a follow-up conversation with Monte Fronk about the story he shared. We also get into more detail about issues relating to sex trafficking and how to recognize the warning signs. Monte has traveled around Minnesota and other parts of the country to share his presentation, “Honoring Nada Fronk: A Native Father’s Experience With His Missing and Murdered Indigenous Daughter.” He oversees emergency management with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Police Department and was kind enough to visit Columbia Heights City Hall for this recording. This is the second of three episodes devoted to the topic of human trafficking. Content warning: Some details in this podcast are disturbing, but we hope it brings more understanding and awareness to this very real issue. Thank you for listening.

Our guest this episode has traveled around Minnesota and other parts of the country to share his presentation, “Honoring Nada Fronk: A Native Father’s Experience With His Missing and Murdered Indigenous Daughter.” Monte Fronk oversees emergency management with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Police Department and was kind enough to visit Columbia Heights City Hall for this recording, which will be split into two episodes. This episode features Monte’s story in full, and the next will feature our follow-up conversation with him. January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This will be the first of three episodes devoted to the topic of human trafficking. Content warning: Some parts of this story are disturbing, but we hope it brings more understanding and awareness to this very real issue. Thank you for listening.