Roll Call: CHPD Podcast

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.

Before they officially retire at the end of 2022, we caught up with outgoing Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart and Anoka County Attorney Tony Palumbo, who discuss their tenure with the county, what they've learned over the years, and what advice they'd like to give to their successors. 

Anoka County Senior Attorney Paul Young lends his expertise on the topics of body cameras, the necessity of plea deals, and Law & Order: CSI.  

Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik joins the Roll Call crew to discuss the schools' partnerships with the Columbia Heights Police Department, the challenges of becoming superintendent during a pandemic, the debate surrounding School Resource Officers, and more. Zena and ISD 13 staff were awarded the 2021 recipients of the CHPD's T. Nightingale Community Service Award, named after retired Police Officer Terry Nightingale, who demonstrated the gold standard in service to the community throughout his career. For decades, the Columbia Heights Police Department and ISD 13 have worked together with the common goal of supporting the community’s youth and building partnerships.

This is the second part of our conversation with Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering, currently the only female police chief in Hennepin County. She talks with Columbia Heights Investigator Tabitha Wood and Officer Shelby Tombers about overcoming frustrations as women in law enforcement, learning to roll with the punches, encouraging other women to join the force, and recognizing the importance of representation. This is part 2 of their conversation. Find part 1 on our website at www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/podcast.

Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering, currently the only female police chief in Hennepin County, stopped by during Women's History Month to swap stories with Columbia Heights Investigator Tabitha Wood and Officer Shelby Tombers about women leadership in policing and the advantages and challenges of being a woman in law enforcement. This is part 1 of their conversation. Check back soon for part 2.

In episode 7 we talk with Eileen Sowry, LICSW, the CHPD's new embedded social worker. In this role, Sowry is a part of a co-responding program with the City's officers where she responds in real-time to 911 crisis calls. Last October, the US Department of Justice awarded the CHPD with an incredibly rare grant to fund a full-time social worker stationed at the police department for the next two years. Eileen joins Cpt. Matt Markham, Officer Mo Farah, and Communications Coordinator Ben Sandell in this final episode of our first year to discuss her experience so far in Columbia Heights. Sowry is detailed from the Canvas Health’s Anoka County Mobile Response Team, which provides crisis response to Anoka County residents when residents call (763) 755-3801.