Salt & Light Partners

06/23/2026

Congratulations to the newly appointed Austin Police Department Chief of Police, Mike Hartman!

06/22/2026

Rochester, MN Fire Dept. families Schnier, Schafer, and Chandler attended the Protectors' Peak Firefighter/EMT Marriage Retreat from June 14-28 in the beautiful woods of North Idaho. S&L loves partnering with organizations that care deeply for the emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness of our first responders.

06/20/2026

Thank you, Laura, for your many years of dedicated service the the sheriff’s office and the people of Olmsted County! ❤️🫡

Although we wrote about this in our June newsletter, we also wanted to post this photo. Executive Support Specialist Laura Collins recently retired from the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office after 29 years of service.

On August 8, 1997, Laura was hired by then-Sheriff Steve Borchardt to replace Joan Hall, another long-time Sheriff's Office executive support staff member. The position she held all these years is very key to the behind-the-scenes workings of our office and Laura filled the role expertly.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office will miss you, Laura. We give you our best wishes in all that you do in retirement. Thank you!

06/19/2026

Again, we are grateful for the support from St. James Coffee for donating their June tips to Salt & Light Partners! Thank you! Great to meet Dr. Brian Kusek as well. Please visit St. James Coffee and tip WELL to support S&L.

06/16/2026

This may become a rite of passage for chaplains. If our cops need to be tased as part of their training, perhaps chaplains could do the same. Reportedly, Austin Police Department Chaplain Dan Mielke knocked out several push-ups after this thrilling episode. Like and comment.

06/15/2026

Congratulations to Courtney and RPD Officer Brayden Chapman on your beautiful wedding with many friends, family, and colleagues! May your days be filled with joy in the Lord. Many blessings!

06/15/2026

Thank you, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service, St. Cloud, for the warm reception and desire to pour into the wellness of your team! We loved sharing time with you all!

06/13/2026

Salt & Light Chaplains recently joined Rochester Public Schools administrators, Rochester/Olmsted County Emergency Management, and School Resource Officers for a school emergency training exercise.

In the aftermath of a school crisis, chaplains help provide compassionate support and assist with the safe reunification of students and families. We are grateful to train alongside our community partners as we prepare to serve when it matters most.

06/12/2026

Safe City Nights are back!

06/11/2026

We love seeing our community come together! Recently, members from our RPD FROGs [Family Readiness & Outreach Group] took on a special beautification project at the City of Rochester, MN Police Department North Station. Thanks to their hard work, the front planters now feature a stunning array of fresh plants and flowers. We truly appreciate their ongoing dedication to making our station feel like home. 🌷☀️