Senate District 49 Republicans are eager to hear from two local police officers with experience in balancing the needs for public safety with the personal concerns of people in our community suffering from mental health crises. Police Officers Kevin Rofidal and Scott Marks will speak to us from their experience. Learn about the challenges facing local police and initiatives they are spearheading to help such people, who are often our neighbors.

Kevin Rofidal (pictured left) has been an officer for 22 years. He spent 17 years on the department’s SWAT team and retired as the team leader. He served on the Board of Directors for the Special Operations Training Association (SOTA) and was heavily involved in the leadership of the regional Southwest SWAT Consortium. Sgt. Rofidal currently serves on the board of directors with Cornerstone Domestic Advocacy Service and a member of the Hennepin County Threat Advisory Group.

Scott Marks (pictured right) has been a licensed police officer in the state of Minnesota for nineteen years, the last fifteen with the Minnetonka Police. He currently serves as Community Engagement Officer, Crisis Negotiator, Chaplain Advisor. In 2016 he received the department Officer of the Year Award. For over two years, he has worked with Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team as a presenter and coach.

We will be offering a catered simple hot-dish/vegetable/salad meal, with coffee, tea, and lemonade, as part of this dinner program. Please RSVP where indicated below so that we can be sure to have enough food.

The dinner program will run from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday February 27, in the Fellowship Hall of the Calvary Lutheran Church, 6817 Antrim Rd, Edina, MN 55439. Those attending for speaker-only should arrive by 7.
Agenda: Doors open at 6, dinner ready at about 6:30, announcements followed by presentation 7 – 8:30.