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Robert Laughlin

ROBERT LAUGHLIN
Appointed May 5, 1884
Died July 28, 1884


On Monday, July 28, 1884 the headlines read, “Officer Laughlin expires at three o’clock. Relieved from suffering.” At 3:15 o’clock this afternoon a telephone message to police clerk Stevens from Officer Kennedy announced the death of Officer Robert Laughlin, who was shot on Washington Avenue North on Saturday morning by one of a party of roughs whom he was endeavoring to arrest, and all of whom are now in jail.

Robert Laughlin was born in Pennobscot, Maine in the spring of 1848. Robert grew up on a farm with his parents. After leaving home Robert held several jobs in the New England area. Some of these jobs included cooking, saloon owner, and undertaking. Robert moved to Minneapolis because of a great desire to see some of the great Northwest. Robert clerked on a number of riverboats until he took a job as a cook for the Governor’s staff at White Bear Lake.

After returning from another job in Fargo, Robert was appointed a member of the Police Force and served in that capacity with general satisfaction. Officer Laughlin was particularly popular with his brother officers and considered an unusually good officer by the residents on his beat. He was a peaceable temperate man, always well liked, and as an officer displayed a careful attention to duty. The brutally murderous assault upon him by “Cantieny” and his brother toughs was the first occasion on which he ever had particular difficulty with anyone whom he attempted to arrest. The manner in which he faced his assailants showed him to be a man of unquestionable nerve.

Officer Charles R. Hill testified that he was at the lockup on Saturday morning when he heard shots. Sergeant Fox went to see what the trouble was and meantime a special officer brought in one of the suspects. Sergeant Fox then returned with Officer Laughlin in a hack. Hill went to Laughlin’s house where he was being attended by a doctor. When asked who shot him, Laughlin said: “Yes, it was Tony Cantieny who shot me; the tall man with the dark clothes.” Laughlin also said that he was coming down Third Avenue North and heard two shots fired. He then came upon Cantieny and his two companions, who began to abuse him, when he whistled for a special officer. One of the fellows then broke away and the other turned and shot him.

When Cantieny was arrested by Officer Hill he refused to say anything about the shooting, but told Hill he would live to get even with me (Hill).

While in jail Cantieny was unwilling to talk about the shooting. His defiant air has made him notorious as one of the nerviest and most brutal toughs ever known by the Police of Minneapolis. After attempts by an angry mob to remove Cantieny from jail he said, “They are a pack of cowardly d-d fools, and there ain’t none of ’em would dare to tackle me alone outside. I ain’t afraid of no crowd like that.” Whether his brutal boldness is natural to him or the result of a studied effort, he is certainly one of the very gamiest scoundrels ever behind bars.

As far as we can tell Officer Robert Laughlin was the first Minneapolis police officer killed in the line of duty. Why he was not placed on the plaque that hangs in the Chief’s office, we have no idea. Officer Laughlin left behind a wife. The couple never had children.

Clayton J. Seawell

OFFICER CLAYTON J. SEAWELL
Appointed October 17, 1983
Died May 4, 1929


Motorcycle Patrolman Clayton J. SEAWELL, a member of the East Side station detail, was fatally injured on May 4, 1929, when he collided with an automobile at Fifth Street and Seventh Avenue NE.

Patrolman SEAWELL was on his way to the station after completing his day’s work, when he crashed into the rear of the car. He was thrown headfirst into the pavement, fracturing his skull.

Rushing to General Hospital with the injured policeman, a police call car was struck by another machine at University and East Hennepin Avenues. The cars were only slightly damaged. Patrolman SEAWELL died a few minutes after reaching the hospital.

SEAWELL, 31 years of age, was a veteran of the World War and had been a member of the police department for over 5 years. He was buried at St. Anthony Cemetery on May 8, 1929.

Patrolman SEAWELL lived at 640 Johnson Street NE with his wife and five small children. One son, Thomas Seawell, who was 3 years old at the time of his father’s death, went on to join the Minneapolis Police Department himself on January 17, 1955. He retired after 28 years of service on June 3, 1983.

Albert Anderson

OFFICER ALBERT ANDERSON
Appointed January 1, 1904
Died February 2, 1928


Veteran Minneapolis policeman, Albert ANDERSON, died on February 2, 1928, from injuries he received while trying to save the lives of others imperiled by a runaway horse.

Patrolman ANDERSON, who was 53 years old, and a policeman on the Minneapolis Police Department for 24 years, was injured just four blocks from his own home, when he pursued a runaway horse and stopped it before it could do any damage. He died at St. Barnabus hospital.

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Should You Sell When the Market Drops?

The stock market can sometimes take investors on a wild ride. Should you consider selling your
stocks when the market drops?

When investing for retirement or any other long-term goal, you will almost certainly experience
nerve-wracking times when your stock investments lose value. During these periods, you may
wonder, “Should I sell now, invest the proceeds in lower-risk investments, and reinvest in
stocks later, when things calm down?”

Trying to determine the best times to buy and sell investments is known as market timing, a
strategy that can be challenging for even the most experienced investors. That is why market
timing may not be the wisest strategy for most of us. Consider the following points.

One. You could miss out on the market’s best-performing cycles. Unless you have a crystal ball,
you’ll never know when the market may bounce back. By selling during a downturn and
keeping the money on the sidelines, you risk missing out on the market’s best-performing days.
If you miss many days of strong performance, it could have a significant negative impact on
your portfolio over time. It could also result in high stress levels as you struggle to chase market
returns.

Two. By selling during a downturn, you turn a paper loss into a real loss. Think about it for a
minute. During a downturn, your investments will be in the midst of a dip in value, but you
haven’t actually captured any loss in your portfolio until you actually sell your investments. On
the other hand, if you’re patient and allow stocks to ride out the dip, there is a chance they will
regain value and move on to future potential growth.

Three. A long-term time horizon can be one of your best investing allies. Investments often
have periods of downturns and, yes, sometimes very dramatic losses, including the possible loss
of principal. But over time, they also typically have periods of upswings. If you have a long time
before you will need the money, say 10 years or more, you may be able to hold steady through
the dips in pursuit of your longer-term goals.

Even knowing these points, staying focused during trying times can be hard, especially if your
retirement savings account is one of your biggest financial assets. If you find yourself losing
sleep during market downturns, it may be time to get some guidance.

A qualified financial professional can help you take fear out of the equation and make an
appropriate decision based on your unique needs and circumstances.

There can be no assurance that working with a financial professional can guarantee investment
success.

Assessing Your Financial Wellness

As a financial professional, Dan Athmann specializes in helping police officers, first responders and their families. He leverages his combined law enforcement and financial services experience to help guide individuals and families with their protection, investment and retirement income planning needs. Prior to his career at Thrivent, Dan’s law enforcement career spanned 25-years with the Burnsville Police Department where he worked in many capacities, finishing his career as an Investigative Sergeant in 2014.

Dan is a Financial Associate at Thrivent, a diversified financial services organization offering advice, insurance, investments, banking and generosity products and programs. Dan has been in the financial services industry since 2016. Dan holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and an Individual Life and Health Insurance Producer License in his home state of Minnesota, as well as non-resident licenses in Wisconsin and California. Dan has extensive training and widespread knowledge with insurance products, investment solutions and retirement income planning strategies. He graduated from St. Cloud State in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, and he graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1996 with a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Education and Administration.

Having lived the law enforcement life, Dan knows what it takes to survive your specific career challenges—the ebbs and flows, and at times, the emotional strain. Dan also knows the importance of preparing for today and for tomorrow. Your career will pass more quickly than you think, and you deserve a sense of confidence in your financial future. Dan can help identify strategies to get you there.

Live for today while preparing for tomorrow
Identifying and assessing your family’s financial wellness is important. Living for today and preparing for tomorrow requires discipline and financial responsibility. There are three fundamental principles that I encourage clients to live by:

  • Spend less than you make.
  • Be wise with debt.
  • Build an emergency reserve to protect yourself and your family against setbacks.

Preparing for retirement should begin day one of your job. In a lot of ways you already are, given the bi-monthly contributions to your PERA or MSRS pension. For many, your pension represents a significant portion of your family’s retirement income, but how much do you know about your pension? Some questions to ask yourself:

  • Are you aware of how your pension works?
  • Do you know and understand the various distribution options?
  • Are you aware of current cost-of-living-adjustments and how this may impact the amount of pension income you receive each month many years from now?
  • Are you aware of other investments that can help supplement your pension?
  • Have you taken a disciplined approach toward retirement investing and accumulation?

I like to use the expression, “pay yourself first.” And for younger readers, please take advantage of the time you have! This is called time value of money, and it illustrates that the earlier you invest, the more money you can have available in the future. This is because any amount of money, such as $20, may likely be worth more today than that same $20 may be worth in the future.

Assess which strategy works best for your goals
For many, pre-tax deferred compensation (457b) is the preferred method for additional retirement accumulation. While this is a valid option, have you assessed if your 457b is the correct strategy for your needs, or are you relying on what coworkers have told you? I love when co-workers inspire each other to invest, and you are encouraged to listen to their wisdom, but tax-efficiency is one critical consideration and leads to my question regarding strategy. Tax-efficiency simply means taking an inventory of your taxable retirement assets and your non-taxable assets. You might ask: Does your portfolio have some balance? Is a Roth 457b or a Roth IRA a better strategy?

Having a broad understanding about tax-efficiency and taking steps early to help ensure you have a mix of taxable and non-taxable assets may provide you with an opportunity to keep your taxes lower in retirement. Keep in mind that Medicare premiums are based on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), and Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) begin at age 72, which means you must draw money from your qualified accounts (those pre-tax accounts) whether you need the money or not. This may increase your tax burden.

I am beginning to see some of your colleagues retiring with six-figure pensions. In my experience with clients, this may likely be the norm several years from now as top patrol pay in the metro for many agencies is already $100,000 without overtime; if you throw in rank, it is even higher. (Note: This assumes no legislative changes to PERA or MSRS.) It is not difficult to imagine that, in the coming years, pensions could rise. That means if someone retires 10 years from now without touching other retirement assets, but their other assets are taxable, their income could go up and their tax burden as well. Being strategic with your investment choices is critical. There is much more to consider, but the first step toward strategic investing is understanding tax-efficiency.

Retire with confidence
For those nearing retirement—congratulations! Hopefully you have spent the past 20+ years “paying yourself first” and you feel confident about your future. Some questions to consider at this stage:

  • What is your written retirement plan?
  • Beyond PERA, what is your distribution strategy for your other investments?
  • Are you tax-efficient or do adjustments and strategies need to take place to fix this? How about your spouse’s investments?
  • What is the plan or strategy with your 457b and what is your investment objective?
  • What impact does the death of a spouse have on taxes and social security?
  • What impact does a long-term care event have on your retirement assets? Do you have a long-term care plan?
  • Do you know about Medicare? The costs? How to sign up?
  • How does your adjusted gross income (AGI) influence your Medicare premiums?

Mistakes in retirement can be costly and, because we don’t have the luxury of time value of money on our side, not having a strategy can be detrimental to your overall financial security. My view on retirement planning is this: You have worked your entire life preparing for retirement and there are many expenses, decisions and life events that can significantly impact all you have worked so hard for. Identifying, developing and implementing a written plan for retirement may not only help provide a sense of reassurance, but it can identify gaps to help protect your hard work and assets, and it can provide you with a roadmap to financial clarity so you can enjoy the retirement you deserve.

Understand your Healthcare Savings Accounts, Retirement Health Savings and Medical Health Savings Plans
Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA), Retirement Health Savings (RHS), Medical Health Savings Plans (MHSP) are common amongst public-sector employees. Funding for these vehicles is dependent upon union contracts, with many variations between agencies. Money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free and is distributed tax-free if it is used for qualified medical expenses. This is a great opportunity to build money that can be used for medical premiums, prescriptions, Medicare premiums and long-term care expenses. The ability to use this for long-term care is a significant benefit—like 457b’s and other investments, these accounts can be invested for long-term growth.

A critical observation: When your HSA, RHS or MHSP is set up and you begin putting money into the account, typically the default is a money market account, which resembles a bank savings account that can pay very low interest rates. Your money is NOT invested. While investing is not for everyone, you should consider it if you want to grow this money over time. My experience is that many people are unaware that these accounts are defaulted to a money market and that you have other investment options. If you only take one thing from the article, have it be this: Check your account today and assess if you are invested or not.

This article points out some of the factors and considerations involving financial wellness, but it in no way addresses all factors. Each individual and family is in a different position and there’s no “one size fits all” approach. Whether you are just beginning your career, are approaching retirement or are retired already, getting tailored and personalized guidance is very important. Simply put, there are many factors to consider, and you do not need to make these decisions on you own. Thank you for your continued service and please stay safe out there.

For a free consultation, simply contact Dan and mention this article.

Dan Athmann, FICF, RICP® can be reached at 952-500-3429
Financial Associate
1895 Plaza Drive, Suite 225
Eagan, MN 55122
Phone: 952-500-3429
Email: dan.athmann@thrivent.com
https://connect.thrivent.com/dan-athmann/
www.facebook.com/daniel.athmann.thrivent/
www.linkedin.com/in/danathmann/  

Thrivent and its financial professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
Thrivent financial professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.
Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. Advisory services available through investment adviser representatives only. Thrivent.com/disclosures.
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May 19, 2020 Guest Post – Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. “Independent Medical Examination and the Effect It Can Have on a Work Comp Claim”

What is an independent medical examination? 

An independent medical examination, or IME, is performed by a doctor at the request of an insurance company in a workers’ compensation case. Despite the title this medical examination will not be independent. The exam will not be conducted by a neutral third-party doctor, rather it will be performed by a doctor of the insurance company’s choosing. Often, large insurance companies will use the same doctor or group of doctors to perform these examinations. The insurance companies pay these doctors directly for the examination and a written report.

Why is an independent medical examination performed?

In Minnesota when a worker is injured in the course and scope of their employment, they can be entitled to benefits under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act, including medical care and wage loss. While an injured worker can be entitled to benefits for life, these benefits are subject to limitations and defenses. An IME can be scheduled for an injured worker at any point during a workers’ compensation claim. After an IME is completed a doctor will issue a written report containing their opinion and findings. When an insurance company schedules an injured worker for an IME they will provide the doctor of their choosing a list of questions to answer in their written report. Often times, the doctor’s answers to these questions will provide a basis for the limitation or end of an injured worker’s benefits.

If after an IME is complete the insurance company wishes to end payment of weekly benefits, such as wage loss benefits, it must provide written notice to an injured worker. To meet this requirement an insurance company will provide the injured worker with a Notice of Intention to Discontinue Benefits (NOID). The injured worker can object to the end of benefits and request an administrative conference with the Office of Administrative Hearings. The injured worker only has 12 days to object to the discontinuance of weekly benefits or benefits will end. Even if a timely objection is filed and an administrative conference is set, an insurance company only needs to show that it has reasonable grounds to support the end of benefits. The insurance company’s reasonable basis to end benefits will often be provided in a doctor’s written report prepared as the result of an IME.

In short, an IME is typically scheduled in a workers’ compensation case as an attempt to limit or end an injured worker’s benefits.

What should an injured worker do if an IME has been scheduled?

An injured worker who is scheduled for an IME and is concerned their benefits may end should contact an attorney who specializes in the area of workers’ compensation. The insurance company has the right to schedule an IME at any point during a workers’ compensation claim.  Often, if an insurance company is choosing to go through with the costs of an IME it is seeking a basis to discontinue or limit benefits. Since an injured worker only has 12 days to object to the end of benefits it can be too late to contact an attorney and mount a complete defense once a notice of discontinuance has been filed. Every workers’ compensation claim is unique, and many can be complex, which is why is it important to consult with an attorney once the IME is scheduled. It is important to be aware of your rights and the impact an IME may have on your benefits.

Don’t wait to get an attorney involved if you have a Minnesota workers’ compensation claim. The process can be complex and you want to be sure you receive the full benefits to which you are entitled. Contact Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. for a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation and claim evaluation. At Meuser, Yackley & Rowland we keep our clients informed of the process as well as what to expect each step of the way. Call us today at 1-877-746-5680.

May 15, 2020 Guest Post – Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. “Fired for Cause: The Complex Issue of Misconduct and PTSD in Law Enforcement”

Allegations of misconduct are not necessarily a barrier to asserting a claim for workers’ compensation and PERA/MSRS Duty Disability benefits for Minnesota police officers and firefighters.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is finally getting recognition as a serious problem for Minnesota’s law enforcement officers. Since October 2013, Minnesota worker’ compensation law now recognizes PTSD as a compensable injury, as does PERA and MSRS for purposes of Duty Disability benefits and Continuation of Healthcare Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465. Meuser Law Office, P.A. has been litigating PTSD claims for over a decade, and our track record speaks for itself. Continue reading

Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis
P.O. Box 18187
Minneapolis, MN
55418