Reflections

Well, it's been years since I have posted. I guess that I will have to pick this up. I know that I am posting with relative anonymity..which might be a good thing.
For those souls out there who i do not know but are following this anyway, a few updates. I am no longer the Minnesota Trustee. I guess that the campaign began almost 3 years ago was ultimately successful. During that campaign I was stunned by the personal attacks that were brought..one was an outright slander, spreading the rumors that I was taking money from the legal defense fund. What was more stunning was the silence from the membership. Yes, there were a very few that spoke up, but those that KNEW that this was false said nothing. After that, I lost my enthusiasm for the organization. I decided to sail off into the sunset.
I also retired from Minnetonka PD. I went about a year and a half sooner than I wanted to. I was fed up working for a city that had no regard for the people who sacrificed for it, as well as police administration worried about how many cars were out on break at the same time, but that refused to do anything about officers who were burglarizing homes and supervisors having blatant affairs with people on their own shift. In fact, the final straw was when my partner who was having the affair announced that he was going to work on MY SHIFT - after having not worked nights for 20 years. Why? You guessed it - his girlfriend worked my shift. All our Chief had to say was his usual "my hands are tied". Really, Mark? Then why did Mike Goldstien demote two sergeants for having affairs?
I took a job with security at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. I enjoy my "mini-career", but I sometimes miss being a cop.
Don't get me wrong - I'm very happy and enjoy my new challenges. More later.

Another Local History Lesson

Whenever we get to the beginning of May I remember one of those significant emotional events that stamps your psyche. On May 6, 1965, 6 F4 and F5 tornadoes shredded the Western and Northern Suburbs of Minneapolis. I was 6 years old and living in Minnetonka at the time. I remember seeing a tornado go down highway 7...it looked like a huge piece of black vacuum hose. 14 people were killed, hundreds severly injured. Above is the map of the paths of the tornadoes...they were on the ground the whole time. The other photo is a trashed Fridley neighborhood.

If you live in the Twin Cities, everytime there is a weather emergency, you tune to WCCO radio. The audio from that night can be found by clicking here.

COPS

On friday I had lunch with my friend and counter - part, Paul Gertsen. Paul is actually what they call the Plains States Trustee (including Minnesota, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and I'm sure other states that I can't remember) for the National Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors. This group is truly doing God's work, watching out for the interests of the families of our fallen comrades. We compared notes, and are planning on some joint projects.

I hope that none of you reading this ever have your family needing the services of COPS, but we should all take comfort in the fact that they are there, and willing to step in when needed.

More Funny stuff

I've seen this before - I think it's either Canadian or British..

The Holy Grail, with no Monty Python.

About 2 weeks into the campaign, this was mu horoscope in the paper. It turned out to be absolutely true.

This quest is definitely molding you. Sometimes it’s not so comfortable to be molded, but stay faithful as you reach the holy grail. It’s not about having the golden chalice; It’s about who you’ll be by the time you’re actually holding it.

Tenure

The seat that I hold is just that - the seat that I hold. It doesn't belong to me, or anyone else. Before I held it, Fred Anderson and Tom Schuveiller held it. After I'm gone, someone else will hold it. Please be clear that I understand that, and that I do understand that the seat does not belong to me (regardless of how long I've held it), it belongs to the membership of Minnesota.

You have honored me by electing me to this seat five times - I ask that you return me a sixth time.

There are things that I would like to get started on, as well as unfinished business. I look forward to discussing these things with all who are in Grand Rapids for the State Conference, and welcome any suggestions or discussions with you who aren't going - I can be reached at schauss@gmail.com or 612.581.4747.