In this issue:
- ECN: Radio grants keep first responders working together to save lives
- MMIR: Agencies on both sides of the border step up to get Indigenous woman home
- Commissioner's Corner: Drive safely as flurries hit the roads
- Featured social media
 A firefighter talks on his radio.
In an emergency, seconds count. That’s why our Emergency Communication Networks (ECN) division is dedicated to keeping first responders in contact with each other — ensuring they can share information to save lives. ECN awarded $4 million in grants to 77 applicants this year for improvements to the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) program — a radio network for public safety agencies statewide.
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Why it matters: “These grants help first responders stay connected across our state. When you’re on the scene of a fire or another emergency, a radio is a lifeline to your team,” said Department of Public Safety Assistant Commissioner T. John Cunningham. “Minnesota has one of the most robust and advanced communications systems in the country. Ensuring that our state’s first responders can remain connected — and informed — is vitally important to saving lives.
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ARMER program: The system, which was made possible through a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Statewide Emergency Communications Board, is used by state, local and Tribal government agencies every day as they work to keep all of us safe.
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Grants: Through the grant funding, our partners are able to buy more radios, replace failing equipment and expand radio capabilities in a way that maximizes the impact across Minnesota.
Learn more in our DPS blog about the ARMER grant program.
 Working together, our MMIR office and agencies in both Canada and the U.S. were able to get the woman home.
One well-placed phone call can make all the difference. A single call set in motion a series of events across jurisdictions and international lines that helped one Indigenous woman reunite with her community in Canada.
The effort brought our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office together with law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border, U.S. Border Patrol, the Otter Tail County Coordinated Response Team and the Red Response Team to help one person in need.
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Serving our mission: “The care and concern all the participating organizations had for this nameless woman, our nameless woman was apparent,” said Ana Negrete, a community planner in our MMIR office. “She wasn’t dismissed, no one played 'not it,' everyone stepped up with genuine compassion. Our office exists because Indigenous people have been overlooked by systems, and they saw her this time."
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Investigation: Staff in our MMIR office used their connections to bring together law enforcement agencies and an Indigenous relatives shelter in Canada. That teamwork was key to getting the woman home.
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Connected with services: Now that the woman is home and surrounded by her community, she will be able to receive ongoing support to heal.
Read the woman’s full story in our DPS blog.
 The first flakes of snow have made their appearance, bringing winter driving hazards with them. On Nov. 20, The Minnesota State Patrol responded to 57 crashes where someone was injured and three where someone was killed, as well as 631 crashes that resulted in property damage.
While summer months are typically the deadliest on Minnesota roads for fatal crashes, wintertime leads to the most crashes and poses its own safety risks and hazards. Remember: Take it slow, always wear your seat belt, put distractions away, turn your headlights on and move over for vehicles and responders on the side of the road.
Make sure to plan a sober ride to stay safe on the road. Impaired is impaired, regardless of the substance.
Follow this link for more winter driving tips.
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