By Linda Scherer
Staff Writer

Police Chief Mike Henrich has been part of the Winsted Police Department for a total of 28 years and plays a very major part in keeping Winsted citizens safe and law-abiding.

In 1985, he became Winsted’s chief of police. He has a staff of three full-time officers who report to him, two reserve officers and 10 part-time officers, who help provide the city with police services throughout the day.

Some of the programs the Winsted Police Department are involved with include drug awareness and meth education presentations, DARE, National Night Out, child fingerprinting, a bike safety program at Holy Trinity and Winsted Elementary, as well as talks to students on any other safety issues the school might request, and talks with the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts so they can earn their merit badges.

Winstock remains a big challenge to the department every year. Henrich has assisted both county and local security at the event during the daytime hours. According to Henrich, for at least three days, the department has the feel of a metro police department.

There is a lot of excitement coming up for the Winsted Police Department in the year 2008, because it will bring lots of change.

One big change will be having computers in the department’s patrol cars. It is like a dream come true to Henrich, who said computers were just evolving when he first became a police officer. The computers should arrive in March or April. The computer system will be joined with the McLeod County system for quick access to information.

The big move to the new city hall will also take place this spring and will give the police department its own offices, an evidence room, and interrogation room – all of which Henrich finds amazing for a small town.

Because the Winsted police officers under Henrich are new to the job, Henrich would like to “stable the ship.” The Citizen’s Academy is a program he would like to implement bringing in local citizens and having the new officers teach a class on different parts of their job. While the officers are teaching, they are also learning right along with the public; plus the officers have the opportunity to meet the town’s people.

Establishing a tradition in the office, Henrich has provided all of the officers under him with a Challenge Coin. It is a type of keepsake designed by himself and a few other officers and Henrich paid for it with his own money. The coin is regarded as part of the Winsted police uniform and is to be carried with the officers on and off the job.

The coin is to be a reminder to the department of who they are and where they come from. Henrich explained “it’s like a family picture.” The picture is there to remind you of who your family is. The Challenge Coin displays the Winsted police officer’s shield and the American flag. The words “honor, courage, and integrity” are engraved in a half circle, with the word family at the bottom of the coin.

In addition to being the Winsted Police Chief, Henrich is also Winsted’s emergency management director (EMS). As the director, he has worked with the city council to have a plan in place for disaster response.

He has headed a number of training efforts, including a mock crash presented last May to Holy Trinity School students showing the consequences of drinking and driving. For the mock crash, there were 11 area agencies that volunteered time, giving everyone attending an awareness of the different public safety personnel providing services to the community.