A pair of bills moving through the state House of Representatives and the Senate right now would help police officers and other public 
The bills require treatment for a mental injury before an employee can file for a related duty disability through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), keep injured employees on payroll while they are receiving treatment for a mental injury, fully reimburse employers for the cost of a continued health insurance benefit for disabled employees or dependents of those killed in the line of duty, and they would require learning objectives and preservice training that prepare peace officers and firefighters for the stressful and traumatic events that are common to their jobs.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott said he is following the legislation very closely.
Under Ellott, the Northfield Police Department is working to ensure officers receive help for mental health issues. The department offers wellness sessions and mental health check-ins, because, he said, good mental health is vital for good policing.
In recent years the job of law enforcement has become more difficult, with more scrutiny and often less respect offered to police than in the past. Elliott said, however, that it’s not just the things police have to deal with directly that can cause problems, but the things they see as a part of their job as well.
“But it’s also the trauma that they see, the way people treat other people, the physical attacks, the domestic assaults. The violence that they see from people that love one another is really difficult. And then just all the physical trauma too. You know that the blood and guts they see, it takes its toll over.”
The bills in both the House and Senate have been endorsed by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and the League of Minnesota Cities. Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig has singled out the legislation as well when discussing the city’s legislative agenda.
Rich Larson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott can be heard here
Hillmann issues a call to public service
Northfield Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann recently returned from the American Assocation of School Administrators 
Hillman, who was named the 2023 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year in November, called being honored by his peers in such a way “a once in a lifetime experience,” and said it reinforces the work being done by the school district and the community.
Hillman said he feels very grateful to have a job that he genuinely loves in a place that he genuinely loves. There has been speculation that honors such as those Hillmann is collecting could lead to opportunities in larger school districts and in larger cities. However, he said he considers Northfeld to be the “major leagues” of education and has no desire to move on. He cited both the state’s and the community’s commitment to education, along with the accompanying expectations, as a motivating factor to work hard every day.
He also expressed his pride in working in public education. Public education, he said, is the foundation of democracy, and he is troubled by the fact that fewer people seem to be choosing education, or any form of public service for that matter, as a career. He said he wants to inspire more people to choose education, and he wants to do that as a member of the Northfield Community.
“Our democracy depends on having smart, dedicated people who are willing to do something more for their community than necessarily their own bank account, if you will. We really need to inspire a rebirth of commitment to public service. And I can’t think of a better place in the world than Northfield, Minnesota, to lead that resurgence.”
Hillmann also said he was grateful to the AASA, who funded his trip to the conference, and said there is real value in gathering with people who do the same work from all across the country. He said he collected many good ideas for many issues, and he is looking forward to putting them in motion.
Carleton Coach Kershaw, men’s basketball team enjoy highly successful season
The Carleton College Men’s Basketball team will host Hamline tonight in the school’s West Gym for the semifinal round of the MIAC playoffs. 
With a 22-3 record, the Knights won their sixth MIAC regular season title, and it is the team’s first outright title since 1923. The twenty-two wins are a school record, and at .875, first year head coach Ryan Kershaw currently holds the highest winning percentage of any coach in school history.
Kershaw, who was hired as the head coach in April after serving for nine years as assistant coach at Carleton under Guy Kalland, said the team is the oldest, most experienced, and best shooting team the school has had since he started. And he was quick to praise the quality of the players on his team.
“One of the best things about coaching at Carleton is the type of kids that we get to work with, the quality of student athletes that we deal with on a daily basis, and the quality of families that they come That has that has borne itself out here in, in, in my time.”
Led by Senior forward Jeremy Buckler, and Sophomore point guard, Luke Harris, Carleton led the league in scoring this season, averaging 79.5 points per game, and in margin of victory at 8.8 points per game.
Kershaw said winning the conference in his first year isn’t a big surprise, because of the foundation left by his predecessor. Kalland, who retired at the end of last season, is the winningest coach in Carleton history. Kershaw, who called himself an MIAC “lifer” after playing at St. Olaf and then coaching at St. Olaf and Augsburg before coming to Carleton, also happens to be Kalland’s son-in-law. He said this season’s success is due to the talent level and experience on his team, and not because of any coaching differences, adding, in fact, that it would have been “foolish” to deviate too far from the style of coaching he learned under Kalland.
Prior to Hamline’s quarterfinal upset of St. Mary’s on Tuesday night, Kershaw said any matchup that came their way was going to be a difficult one because of the talent level in the MIAC.
“And the way that the MIAC season has played out, you know, there’s so much more there. There is more parity within our conference this year than any year that I can remember. Honestly, in 23 years of being a part of the of the player and a coach. And so, we know that whoever we play on Friday night is going to be a tough game.”
The game will begin at 7:00 tonight. Should Carleton win, the school will host the MIAC Championship Game on Sunday at 2pm. Meanwhile, St. Olaf College will play at St. John’s tonight in the other semifinal matchup. That game is also at 7:00.
Rich Larson’s full conversation with Carleton Men’s Basketball Coach Ryan Kershaw can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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