By Tyler Trieglaff

Notes from the Chief

Notes from the Chief…It is that time of year again where I put on a local Youth Firearm Safety Class. 

I have been teaching classes in Frazee for close to 18-plus years and it may be time to hang it up soon. For about 17 of those years, we would have the classroom portion of 12-15 hours of instruction along with the field day which is about two hours long. 

These classroom sessions were once held every Monday night for five to six weeks, but I started having them Sunday and Monday nights, getting the classes done in three weeks. 

The field days were then spread out over a few weekends to get all the kids completed. We first held the classes in the springtime only but moved to spring and fall to accommodate numbers of students seeking their Hunter Safety Certificate.

Class has now switched to one Sunday morning in the spring and fall. The students now complete the classroom portion online which is about 12 hours of computer time.

The students then come to the Hybrid Field Day where we have three hours of class time, then head to the pasture for the field day portion of the class. This has worked well and this past Sunday we held our fall class in Frazee.

With the switch to the Hybrid Class, we are getting many students from several hours away as it is harder to find a local class or that class may be full. When we open registration, we start with our local kids and let them get signed up. This registration was open for a few weeks. Our class had around 13 local students so we advertised on the Minnesota DNR website and class filled up within three days, up to 24 students. I have had parents as far away as Rochester ask about the class as they could not find one in their area. 

I also had one parent get upset with me and the DNR with the lack of classes. This is where I draw the line. I had to inform him that we are all volunteers and that is who sets up and teaches the classes. I also told him (and others) that they are well within their rights to get certified and teach the class too. Once he learned that we are all volunteers, his attitude changed for the better.

So with that I am putting it out there that there is an instructor course Saturday, Oct. 10 in Hawley. I first sat through this course in 2008 and have gone a few more times as a refresher. The state is in need of more instructors as some of us may want to retire soon, but with the lack of replacements, that makes it hard to do. If someone is interested, teaching a class with a veteran teacher is the best way to learn. The information for the instructor class is located on the MN DNR website at: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/events/safety_training_class.html?id=3396

Friday, Sept. 25

1:36 p.m. Collection of prescription medications.

Saturday, Sept. 26

10:18 p.m. Noise complaint at an apartment building. The tenant turned the music down when the officer arrived. 

Sunday, Sept. 27

9:54 p.m. Domestic incident between male and female. Male was given a ride to his dad’s house.

Monday, Sept. 28

11:46 a.m. Report of a dog jumping the fence to get into attack another dog. Info relayed to the dog owner who said she will keep the dog tied up from now on.

2:44 p.m. Assist with some cattle in the ditch on 29 north of town. (not the chief’s cattle)

6:38 p.m. Complaint of a child driving an e-bike in the empty lot in Red Willow. The child was being supervised by his parents and wearing a helmet.

9:50 p.m. Report of a dog barking that was keeping a baby up. The officer talked with the neighbors and explained the concern. The dog owner was apologetic and said they would be more aware of the situation.

Tuesday, Sept. 29

12:28 p.m. Report of a loose dog on 4th St SW. Dog was gone when the officer arrived.

Wednesday, Sept. 30

1:22 a.m. The officer located a parked vehicle on River Drive N. without any lights on.  Occupants scrambled from the back to the front and claimed to be watching a movie.  The couple was warned for illegal parking and told to move along.

Thursday, Oct. 1

2:44 p.m. Parking complaint of vehicles on private property. The officer talked with vehicle owners and asked that they move the cars so they would not have to be towed. One vehicle was moved right away, the other may be there for a bit longer as it needs repair.

6:37 p.m. Assist with a pickup vs Amish buggy on Co Rd 122.

9:07 p.m. Report of a pickup pulling a trailer with no lights on U.S. Hwy 10. Unable to locate.

(Tyler Trieglaff is the Chief of Police in Frazee and an award-winning beef farmer. Blue Line Farm was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Conservationist of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts)