[0:03] [Music] welcome to the mayor minutes podcast I'm Joanna Mutan mayor of wetta Minnesota [0:10] and your host tune in each month as we get to the heart and soul of the people who serve the city and the [0:16] community today I want to welcome police chief Mark Schultz to the podcast after 5 years of leadership and providing [0:22] immeasurable value to the WIS Zetta and longlake communities wetta police chief Mark Schultz will be retiring this month [0:29] welcome chief thank you mayor uh yeah it's good to be here it's kind of crazy that it's been [0:34] that long but it's coming to an end I know you've been a guest here at least once before once before I think yeah and [0:41] this is a celebration this is the uh the cherry on the cake so to speak yeah the [0:46] bookend podcast I think I did one when I started and uh or at least maybe in the Chief's position uh and now I'm leaving [0:56] I know crazy crazy well let's talk a little bit about you know going ask lots of questions about your career but what [1:03] got you started in law enforcement what was that motivating factor that made you decide this was the career for you yeah [1:10] well I'm still trying to figure that out I guess you know a lot of people um a lot of people when they in this field [1:17] when they grow up they have aspirations to be police officer deputy sheriff or [1:22] something I never really had an idea of what I wanted to be and uh so I went to college um tried out a few different [1:29] majors years um and ultimately landed in College of Natural [1:35] Resources um I was going to be a biologist and I uh you know went through [1:42] that whole program graduated and I realized my wife probably didn't want to move up to Elie and I wasn't going to [1:47] make a lot of money so what can I do to to fix that and I got you know into law enforcement because it it would allow me [1:53] to spend time outside um and do something different every day not in an [1:59] office yeah so here I am well yeah career 2.0 you never know yeah you know [2:07] I never you put that undergrad uh degree to different youth just or just a hobby [2:14] you know just uh I I still enjoy spending time Outdoors but after having [2:20] three kids in in hockey um my Falls were pretty much taken up by hockey and so [2:26] I've uh I've graduated from the deer stand to the uh the hockey arena stands [2:31] nice and uh so who knows but maybe I'll get back into fishing or you know take [2:37] up maybe nature photography or something I don't know well you'll have to share those photographs with all of us sure [2:43] especially of all the fish you'll be catching now yeah yeah hopefully knock on wood so when you think back on your [2:49] career how many years total uh just under 27 so I started with Roseville in [2:55] July of 98 um I had spent a few few years with [3:00] the uh Federal Protective Service before that uh as a contract security guard at the federal courthouse and okay um so [3:08] few extra years in law enforcement but not um not according to perah sure um so [3:13] but uh yeah uh the uh the career has [3:18] been beyond rewarding um you know there's I've been thinking a lot about [3:24] it lately and there's just so many things that pop into my head when I think about the good old days and yeah [3:29] you know just uh changing career paths from you know from Roseville to Yetta um [3:36] was just such a such a great decision and um I'm lucky to be here so oh that's [3:41] fantastic well we're been so lucky to have you um so you think about your [3:47] career 27 years um in several capacities in law [3:52] enforcement when you think back of all of the experiences this going to be kind of a multi-park question what do you [4:00] think is your proudest moment you know um I would say you know [4:08] every every police officer has uh that goal um to find be in the right place at [4:14] the right time right just doing our jobs catch the bank robber or you the [4:19] homicide suspect or something like that and you I've had an opportunity to to to [4:25] Revel in those successes a few times but [4:31] you know a lot of the things that I remember deal with like the cumulative [4:37] accomplishments like uh receiving a recognition from the SWAT team um when I [4:44] was in Roseville I was part of the East Metro SWAT team spent several years on that team and um had the joy of being [4:50] recognized one night at my surprise um jeez you [4:57] know is there recognition for a specific event or your service on [5:04] that team no I was on the team for like 13 years total okay um in different [5:09] roles um and when I finally announced my retirement from the team yeah um [5:15] apparently that was a big enough number for them to to do something special so that was that was great you know it was [5:22] uh being recognized by my peers and that made made me very proud um you know and then I would say another [5:30] cumulative accomplishment I guess I would say would be to have the opportunity to step into a leadership [5:35] role here in Yetta um several leadership roles leadership opportunities over the [5:41] years but nothing to the extent of Deputy Chief or chief of police and that was a whole new challenge for me um and [5:49] uh but yet it was a challenge that came with an opportunity to do a lot of good [5:55] too and a lot of uh you know um a lot of things that maybe [6:00] um I thought or others thought could be changed and um you know steps in the right direction so to speak and so um it [6:08] was really a a different aspect of my career and and cumulatively I would say [6:13] that having that leadership role was um probably the highlight of of my career [6:19] oh that's great biggest challenges I mean policing has changed over 27 years obviously and [6:27] you've been as you mentioned in a number of different roles and a different capacities uh what would you say have [6:35] been the biggest challenges in terms of for yourself personally but maybe also [6:40] for uh policing in general well uh you [6:47] know we with all the different shifts in law enforcement the the alarm clock was a challenge no um you know I would say [6:57] um some of obviously coming into this role in y Zetta was was around 2019 when [7:03] I stepped into into my role as deputy chief here and uh up until that point my [7:09] career you know law enforcement had changed but not to the extent that it was about to change yeah um with with [7:15] the Advent of covid um everything we saw regarding that um we really it changed [7:21] how we did our day-to-day jobs it changed how we looked at everything every single thing uh you know related [7:28] to what we did um not only that but then you had to um you know sort of look at [7:33] protecting the public in a whole new in a whole new light with a whole new set of glasses um not far after that was tons [7:41] of civil unrest um that we dealt with and you know um in my entire career I've [7:47] never never dealt with um curfews or you know um having the public I remember [7:55] driving down the streets of Yetta and only seeing fire engines and cop cars yeah because everybody was in their [8:01] homes um waiting for you know the bad thing to happen or um you know the the [8:08] the unknown to happen and thank goodness it didn't it didn't happen here but um you know I I also remember driving into [8:15] work every morning um and looking off in the distance at Minneapolis and seeing [8:20] the flames right and the smoke and um you know knowing that that could be us [8:26] today M um and so that was certainly um a challenge that you know nobody [8:32] expected but everybody just dealt with it and you know between the planning the [8:38] preparation the the mitigation the um the networking um you know the meetings [8:45] um a lot of meetings yeah and and just uh everybody was in the same boat Y and [8:52] nobody really knew uh how to get through it but we knew we were going to get through it together and we did and and [8:57] so um everything else sort of pales in comparison I guess when when you look at that [9:03] but um you know I I also think [9:10] um again cumulatively leadership was a challenge um you know taking this role [9:16] as I said was was a new step for me and um I learned quickly that you know I had [9:21] to figure out what my leadership style was um inherently and just you know try [9:26] to figure out how I could best uh utilize that to to bring the change and success that I wanted to bring to this [9:33] department and um and then also try to stay on top of you know sort of like [9:38] read the room right um what what do I what do I need to do to keep us moving [9:44] in the right direction and and what do my officers want from a leader um and [9:50] what do they need from a leader and then and try to bring that and uh luckily I think we were sort of on the same page [9:57] when when I had to when I was with that decision and um I just I couldn't be [10:03] luckier to have the group of people to work with that I do and um and I feel very blessed U to have had that [10:09] opportunity so well it's uh it speaks volumes of the leadership that you bring there [10:16] are bosses and there are leaders and uh we all come into our own when we take [10:22] on these roles and uh you know you you talked about the the civil unrest and [10:29] and the challenges that that posed and then you throw in you know [10:35] you've got a new mayor and and they have questions and so you probably had just a [10:41] ton of stuff on your plate and you always handled that with such Grace and Poise and um and wonderful information [10:47] and and you definitely kept us safe um and for that I'm for you know I'm forever grateful because I I can't even [10:54] imagine being in your shoes I know that being in my shoes it was is jarring mhm [11:01] to say the least of suddenly feeling this [11:07] um I don't know if pressure is the the right word but it it certainly felt like it at the time looking back it it didn't [11:14] um I don't know that I would use the same word but in the in the moment it was stressful um just suddenly you know [11:22] you don't know what's going to happen and you feel this responsibility for an entire community and are you making the [11:29] right decision are you making the right call so um I can certainly appreciate [11:34] you know or have a sense of what maybe you were going through um what about [11:40] your family through all of this how how did they help support you and how did they [11:48] deal with the challenges and the stresses that go with a career in a [11:54] dangerous job you know uh the only thing I can [11:59] tell you is they've been so supportive um my entire career you know uh early on in my career [12:07] I had some like a lot of cops I had some challenges in field training and some some hurdles I had to get over and um [12:15] you know I remember late night conversations with my wife about it I doing the right thing is this what I [12:20] really am meant to do yeah and she was so encouraging and you know just [12:26] compassionate and um she didn't try to take the pain away but she was just there to let me know that hey I hear you [12:33] and um that's really been her role through my entire career is I'm just [12:38] here and uh you know and that's carried into my family you know we've had some [12:43] um some calls some cases some some incidents that uh I guess um I'll never [12:51] forget but sometimes people would maybe rather forget and um they've been just [12:57] so supportive um and understanding you know I I remember times where I would come home and uh I would not be in a [13:04] good mood I would not be rational in most cases you know like sure just the way things play with your mind and um [13:11] you know just not in a good space and and um they gave me my space and just [13:16] took a step back and said uh what do you need and and let us help and um to have [13:22] that support network I don't I don't think I could have made it through the 27 years or 26 and a half years that I did uh without about them [13:30] yeah through 27 years in public safety [13:36] one of the changes that um a substantive change that I saw that you brought was [13:42] the checkup from the ne up and the importance of mental health in uh for [13:49] First Responders can you talk a little bit about that program what it means to you [13:55] what it means to the department and how you seen that evolve the notion of you [14:03] know mental health being such an integral part um an important integral part of really caring for the whole self [14:12] um especially in such a a stressful um profession yeah um I you know I I've uh [14:21] it's been around for quite actually quite some time um the the term checkup from the neck up and you know whatever [14:27] phrase you want to uh call Co mental health check-ins has been around for quite some [14:33] time it's just a lot of departments including ours hadn't had the opportunity or taken the measures to adopt it and to fully implement it and [14:42] part of that is because you know it's expensive part of it is um I always joke [14:49] with uh we had a departmental meeting um and invited our uh therapist to come and [14:56] introduce himself and uh you know I I said to the troops I said you know therapy is a lot like dating you have to [15:03] really have a have a good fit with the person that you're going to sit with and [15:09] um it has to be comfortable and so that's been a challenge too is finding the right person to to fill that role [15:15] and I I really think we've uh I think we've we've we've really filled that [15:20] that uh that void um why is it important because you know [15:26] this job um inherently takes piece by piece a little bit from you each day and [15:33] it might not be just one case it might not just be one incident or one call for service or one accident or one you know [15:42] I could go on and on yeah um but it's a it's a day in and day out the stressors [15:49] you know um trying to get to the right place at the right time the location everything about this job can be [15:56] stressful and if you don't take care of yourself throughout that whole process it tends to pile on and um you know I'll [16:03] be the first to tell you that um at one point in my career I felt I was immune to it you know like um sure emotional [16:10] survival for law enforcement who's this Kevin Gil Martin guy I don't need to know this stuff and you know after a few [16:18] years a former Chief of mine um on his way out the door said take care of [16:24] yourself take care of yourself no seriously take care of yourself and I didn't understand at the time what he [16:30] was talking about or why he was so adamant about that um but that's something that I will um make sure that [16:37] it's passed on to to our officers is take care of yourself because uh if you can't take care of yourself you really [16:43] can't take care of others um even those that are most important to you so um so [16:48] it's very important to learn that early on in your career is huge so that's why we're implementing as part of our [16:55] wellness program uh we do have mental health check-ins now mandatory for all of our [17:00] officers um and uh you know we've got peer counselors on on staff that are [17:06] officers um We've Got U mentors set up for our new trainees in field training [17:11] um that they can go to that aren't going to be recruit you know uh uh judging [17:16] them or grading them or anything like that just listening to them sure um so [17:22] it's it's you I guess we've kind of graduated into making it kind of a holistic program and uh and it's due [17:31] that's wonderful so on a lighter note sure we all have that funniest [17:39] moment just a a a call uh an event at [17:45] work do you have any of those we must have one you know there's there's so many [17:53] funny moments um I was just talking with deputy chief Baker about this today but [17:58] um um so many that I can't say on a podcast as well those are the ones we [18:04] want to hear um you know um cops are people and [18:09] things humor Us and and stuff and you know honestly cops try to make light of a lot of things you might um you know if [18:17] you've ever watched a cop show not that they're true you know realistic or anything like that but a lot of them [18:23] kind of focus on humor anyhow but um one of the funny what well I mean I got to [18:29] meet uh Vern Troyer better known as Mini Me got a picture with him um I I have a [18:37] picture I used to keep a scrapbook M and I have a picture of a single car rollover accident not funny no but it [18:46] was in the in the Drive-Thru of a Taco Bell so tell me how that happens right [18:51] um it was super hungry I was just like how crunchy Gordo how did a car roll [18:56] over in Taco Bell drive-thru any answer to that uh so you'd have to know the [19:03] location but um there was a little bit of a hill next to it and it end it rolled down the hill Oh W into the [19:09] drive-thru into the drive-thru um again not funny but for me it was it's it's [19:15] stuck out as a memory um you know there's been tons of conferences like [19:20] that you know we go to as police officers and try to uh you know uh [19:26] there's social time and and whatnot and we uh we try to make light of things whenever we can and and make fun of each [19:32] other but um yeah I just you know I guess a lot a lot of the funny [19:40] things I'm not going to share with you today mayor because uh one you wouldn't understand it two it's probably not [19:46] appropriate for this podcast so okay it'll be for a different day okay make a list and yes well I wish I would have [19:53] written a book yeah said that many times absolutely uh what about our young [19:59] people who are considering this career who are maybe just getting started as you reflect back on your own [20:06] career what's worked what hasn't what's your advice to them yeah you know um not as their boss [20:13] but maybe as a neighbor or sure parent um keep your your friends close right um [20:21] learn to rely on people that you trust um including your co-workers um and and [20:28] um and then I would say trust your gut um because as a cop you need to to know [20:34] that uh you know your your train of thought is usually going to lead you in the right direction but also keep an [20:39] open mind um you know that's again sort of a cumulative you know oversight type of [20:46] thought but um I think those are probably two things that'll carry you through your career with some level of [20:53] success um I would encourage any new person to uh to keep a scrapbook at [21:00] least for a little while to you know reflect back on and and uh because you're going to get to a point like [21:05] where I'm at and you wish you would have kept more of those things in a scrapbook it's a great idea and you know maybe [21:13] write a book in case the mayor asks you what your funniest experience was um but [21:19] uh don't take things too seriously in this job you can't um I I think the most [21:24] successful people in policing have been able to make light and and you know you know the lighter the lighter side of [21:31] policing um most of the me most of the memories that I have are tragic honestly [21:38] you know it's sad to say but um somehow some way we've found a way to connect [21:44] with each other and you know that helps us remember the the good parts and um [21:50] even of those those types of calls that you know we wish we could forget but uh [21:56] but I think if you if you just remember everybody's human and you don't have to absorb it all just let some of it bounce [22:02] off your back um you you'll do fine that's a great uh thing to remember in [22:08] life in general that's uh we should keep that front of mind that Humanity for [22:15] other people and yeah absolutely nobody's perfect so why Zetta uh you're stomping [22:23] grounds for the last five years what would you say you've had a lot of respons responsibilities outside [22:29] of the day-to-day policing we also have a lot of events where the police [22:34] department participates quite a bit do you have a personal favorite of course I do all right let's hear well uh I [22:42] started in November of 2019 here in y Zetta and so I was you know the the new [22:48] greenhorn and my first event was I think it was my first week and the job was [22:54] light up the lake okay which ironically enough is just coming around the corner here so [22:59] um that without a doubt was uh just an unbelievable well welcoming experience [23:05] to you hear about it it's a parade we take part in it and you know walk down the street and I was like oh great that [23:12] sounds fun and then you get here and you realize you stepped into a Hallmark movie you know and I happen to have my [23:19] family with me and and uh and my daughter even said that she's like Dad this is like a Hallmark movie this is [23:26] beautiful snowing temperature everybody was smiling it was [23:31] just awesome and uh and so uh coincidentally enough like I said it's [23:36] coming right around the corner paired with my last day NY Zetta and um so I'm [23:42] I'm happy to have that be my last day yeah you know this community is fantastic um I'm preaching to the choir [23:49] here obviously um and the the amount of support that the community has in [23:57] everything that it does um behind the scenes in front of the scenes um you know financial support [24:04] everything that's that that they do as a community in in both wisett and Long [24:10] Lake have been um truly astonishing to me and a lot of those special events um [24:18] are are successful because of how our our community participates in them and how much they appreciate uh all of them [24:25] and um take ownership in Yetta and in Long Lake and so um while we've got JJ [24:32] Hill days and you know beach bash and all of these you know big memorable [24:37] times uh my favorite is light up the lake I think it may be mine too and I [24:44] know that uh I'm glad we're on the same page one of the things that [24:51] I probably be my I'm going to call it my feather in my cap as I kept wanting more and more lights in a bigger tree [24:59] because to me it was the potential to be that quintessential Hallmark moment in [25:05] movie and the crowds have just really embraced it and it is so wonderful to [25:11] see so many people of different ages all come together with the I like those [25:17] little light stick things that you guys hang um hand out that is a lot of fun but the tree and the Caroling I mean you [25:24] can't ask for anything more than that and um yeah so I I'd have to agree with you that's uh that's fun horer Carriage [25:33] the carolers the hot cocoa the you know everything is just awesome and uh see [25:39] the see the little kids the smiles on their faces and you know it's just it's a great way to kick off the holiday [25:45] seasons it's magical yeah it truly is well so you'll [25:51] be coming to a close here pretty soon we've got light up the lake which you will still be here for what are your [25:58] plans once you right off into the sunset into retirement [26:04] sunset uh you know um I try to tell everybody that asks me [26:11] that they're like what are you going to do afterwards and my my my answer that I should have is everything I want to do [26:17] everything right um but I don't have any specific plans right away so um other [26:24] than taking care of my granddaughter my a beautiful uh three month old granddaughter Congratulations by the way [26:30] thank you um so Thursdays are going to be our day and uh and so I'm I'm looking [26:37] forward to that and truly connecting with her but um I'm a job lined up you [26:43] know I've always said that if I do something after retirement it's going to be like working at Home Depot or mowing [26:49] grass at a golf course or you know something like that um whatever comes my way taking nature yeah taking pictures [26:57] of nature yeah yeah yeah there's plenty of projects around the house around the cabin um things like that but um you [27:04] know I've got a few things I I wouldn't mind um diving into for hobbies and um [27:10] certainly taking you know focusing on myself taking better care of myself and uh just trying to live live a better [27:17] life yeah well I'm excited for you thank you that is just uh you've had a [27:24] wonderful career in an admirable profession I really enjoyed getting to [27:29] know you as a as a person um what you've brought to the city and to the [27:36] department is has been unmatched um so I thank you for that um I wish you the [27:42] very very best as does the entire Community um and uh I hope you do get to [27:49] sit back and enjoy and do everything and nothing at the same time yeah you know [27:54] it it hasn't hit me yet um even though I'm coming real close to my last day it hasn't really quite squarely hit me um [28:03] but it will I think and um I just I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity [28:08] to be here um having an opportunity to be a chief in and of itself is pretty [28:14] fantastic I mean it's it's quite an experience um but having that opportunity here in wi Zetta um it [28:21] brings it to a whole another level and um I know I can say that because I've [28:26] experienced it and um you know that's probably going to be the biggest uh [28:33] thing that's going to hit me is how do I step away from that job you know uh how did I decide to move on to the next [28:39] chapter and when um when I was really enjoying and I have enjoyed my time here [28:45] so yeah you're preaching to the choir yeah right and congratulations to you as [28:51] well oh thank you thank you it's uh it is it's a beautiful magical place that [28:57] it's hard to even express in words and it's not until people get to experience it for themselves MH that they can [29:05] truly understand and appreciate how special a place this is yeah yeah well [29:10] great well Mark thank you so much for everything thank you for serving um us [29:16] and the community and the council and your leadership uh we truly are a better [29:22] place for having you you know everybody says thank you for your service right and um throughout [29:28] my entire career that's probably been the hardest thing to respond to um because you really don't know what to [29:34] say but it truly has been an honor and a privilege to serve the the communities that I've had the chance to serve in [29:41] state of Minnesota and and uh and do the right things for the right reason and uh [29:46] I just feel blessed so thank you absolutely well we wish you the very best and can't wait to see you uh in [29:54] retirement come back and visit next year for light up the lake absolutely we'll see you then thank you