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Shafer credits his department’s training in crisis management.

“Our officers are highly trained in crisis mitigation. They’ve done a great job,” he said.

Complaint calls There have not been a lot of calls for COVID-related problems, Shafer said, such as businesses not following regulations.

“We’ve not had a lot of complaints. We’ve probably had a dozen complaints since the beginning of COVID, specifically relating to businesses. For the most part, people have been very good,” he said. ‘We’ve still taken the approach and the recommendation of the Department of Public Safety to warn and educate and we respond to any calls we get. We’ll continue to do that.”

He’s concerned with businesses that may try to work around the latest Executive Orders of Gov. Timothy Walz.

“Our approach starting tonight is that everything is closed at 10,” he said of bars and restaurants. “I’ve been to a couple businesses in the last couple days. I’m seeing and I’m hearing that some of the people are moving the seating away from their bar, but they’re pushing tables up against the bar. In my mind, that’s an extension of the bar. Basically, the rule is you can’t be standing up and you can’t be standing or sitting at the bar.”

He said he had a call in for clarification on the order.

“As you heard the governor say, it’s people who are trying to get around some of the rules is the reason they’ve had to clamp down. It’s all of our responsibility to make sure these rules are being followed,” said Shafer.

Officer Morale Shafer was questioned on the morale of his staff.

“The morale is excellent,” he said. “In fact, most of the officers could not wait to get going again after I pulled them back at the beginning of COVID. I’ve had less sick calls since COVID. People just want to be here.”