Meet Your Board
The Faces of Our Association
Sara Gangle
President
St. Cloud Police Department
Officer Sara Gangle started her career in 2011 working for the City of New Hope, MN till 2014. Officer Gangle transferred to City of St. Cloud Police Department to have the opportunity to gain experience in all area of law enforcement. She is currently working in the capacity as a School Resource Officer under the Community Engagement Unit at St. Cloud Police Department and has been in this position since 2016. During the summer Officer Gangle works patrol. Previously Officer Gangle worked as a on-call investigator 2017-2019 and assisted the sex trafficking unit as a decoy 2015-2018.
Officer Gangle has been an active member of MAWP since she began her career in law enforcement and openly talks about the importance of having great mentors and a positive network in the field. She is a graduate of St. Cloud State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree as a double major in Community Psychology and Chemical Dependency. Officer Gangle went on to earn her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice at St. Cloud State University in 2010. Officer Gangle is also licensed through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy as a Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Officer Gangle previously held the positions of
Communication Director 2019-2022
Historian in 2013-2014.
Nicole Swanson
1st Vice President
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Nicole Swanson was born and raised in Douglas County. She lives in Garfield, Minnesota right outside of Alexandria with her husband and their two children. Nicole’s husband is also in Law Enforcement, keeping their household very busy. Before becoming a Deputy, Nicole obtained her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Concordia University in Saint Paul. She started her “big girl” life as a Family and Youth Advocate at the Harriet Tubman Shelter in Maplewood, MN. She eventually returned home and was hired with the Sheriff’s Office as a 911 Dispatcher, while she completed the Law Enforcement Skills program. Nicole was then hired as a Deputy with Douglas County.
Nicole is currently serving as a School Resource Officer, teaching DARE and in the summer on Water Patrol. She puts on all youth activities in the community, including Shop with a Cop, Bike Safety, and more. She is also involved in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Federation, Domestic Violence Task Force Committee, the Secretary for the Minnesota DARE Officers Association and on the Douglas County SWAT Team as one of three Negotiators.
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys being a wife and mom. She looks forward to weekends off with her husband so they can lay low or get outside with their children.
Hayley Springer
2nd Vice President
Lakeville Police Department
Hayley is employed with the City of Lakeville Police Department as of April 2017, where she
currently serves as a Patrol Officer. Hayley is an active member of her department and stays busy with a variety of roles to include Field Training Officer, Drug Recognition Evaluator, and a Crisis Negotiator on the South Metro SWAT Team. She also serves as a member on her department’s Mental Health Team and Community Response Team. Hayley attended Hamline University for her undergraduate education where she played D3 Lacrosse and graduated with degrees in both Criminal Justice and Psychology in 2016. She returned to Hamline in 2019 to further her education, and graduated with her Master’s Degree in the Study of Law in May of 2021. In her free time, Hayley loves to spend time outdoors with her two dogs, Crosby and Nash.
Debora Ocloo
Communications Director
St. Cloud Police Department
Debora Ocloo has been employed with the City of St. Cloud as an Officer since October of 2016, having been on patrol for nearly four years and currently on the Community Response Team (CRT) in the Community Engagement Division. Debora holds many specialty positions within her department to include but not limited to: Recruitment, Peer Support, Defensive Tactics Instructor, etc...
Debora grew up in the St. Cloud area and graduated from SCSU with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a M.A. of Special Studies with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions. Debora enjoys the outdoors/nature (fishing, hiking, walks, bonfires, kayaking, canoeing, etc…), being active, traveling and powerlifting. She also enjoys time with family and friends and likes being active in her community.
She previously held the position of Historian from 2021-2022.
Courtney Hartle
Treasurer
Waseca Police Department
Officer Courtney Hartle has been employed with the Waseca Police Department since January 2016 as a patrol officer. Courtney grew up in Owatonna, MN and graduated from the Owatonna High School. She attended Rochester Community College and earned her AA Degree later, furthering her education with MSU-Mankato earning her Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement. She also attended Alexandria Technical College where she graduated from the law enforcement skills program. Courtney enjoys spending time with her family and friends and being active in her community.
Ashlee Lange
Historian
University of MN Police Department
Lieutenant Ashlee Lange is currently the Patrol Lieutenant at the University of Minnesota Police Department, Department of Public Safety. She has been with University for over 13 years, formerly a Sergeant, FTO, Bike Unit member, Community Engagement Team member and FIP instructor. She attended St.Cloud State University and received a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Sociology along with a M.S. in Public Safety Executive Leadership. When she's not working she likes to travel, stay active, garden and spend time with her family. She has been a member of MAWP for 8 years and loves to make personal and professional connections through the organization. She believes it is vital for women to empower each other.
Christina Mignone
Secretary
University of MN Police Department
Christina Mignone is the newest member of the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Community Engagement Team, where she is the Recruitment, Engagement, and Mentorship Associate. Mignone started as a Community Service Officer and Reserve Officer for the Elk River Police Department. She then moved on to a five-year career with the Minnesota State Patrol, and worked as a State Trooper, building relationships and connections in the community and developing and refining her own skills along the way. Mignone graduated from Century College with her associate degree both in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. She attended Hennepin Technical College for her law enforcement skills training.
One of her goals is to provide comprehensive mentoring support for new officers coming into the profession, mentor officers living out their faith while working in the profession and making an impact in challenges we face in policing. Mignone is especially focused on officers’ sense of self, abilities, confidence, and adaptability. My goal within my new role has been to help refine and increase the quality of hire, networking, and providing more visibility in recruitment marketing efforts, utilizing graphic elements that improve the brand value and are visually attractive and relevant for the audience and user community.
I attended the 2023 MAWP Conference as a vendor for UMPD and was grateful for the efforts and work put into this conference as it provided a place for police to gather and learn more about one another while appreciating each of our uniqueness. We each have a story that impacts the work that we do, and it was an honor to see so many great people gathered. I was nominated as the new Secretary to represent Minnesota Association of Women Police in which I happily accepted as it aligns with my goals to impact this profession in an honoring life-giving way to both serve and represent women in policing. I will continue to strive towards making a positive impact in the law enforcement profession through recruitment, engagement and mentorship efforts, while leading by example to serve the officers in this profession and for generations to come.
Serena Frazier
Past President 2019-2022
Waseca County Deputy
Serena has been employed by the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office since December of 2014. She grew up in Red Wing, MN and moved to Waseca area when she was hired by Waseca Police Department in 2012. Serena graduated from Metropolitan State University with a B.S in Criminal Justice and B.A in Law Enforcement. Serena has also worked for Red Wing Police Department and Goodhue Police Department in her 7 Years of Law Enforcement. She currently holds the title as Deputy Sheriff with Waseca County, which includes, bailiff, patrol and minor investigations. Serena is also an active member in her local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #16 holding the position of President as well. Serena loves spending time with family and friends and being an active member in her community.
Emily Kaehn
Brooklyn Park Police Department
Past President
Emily has been employed through the Brooklyn Park Police Department since January of 2008. She grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota where she graduated High School and completed her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She completed the Skills Program at Alexandria Technical College during the summer of 2006. During her employment at Brooklyn Park PD, she has held the role of Patrol Officer, Explorer Advisor, COPS Officer and the role of Detective in the Juvenile Unit of Investigations. During that assignment, she is assigned to a local high school as a School Resource Officer. On the Board of MAWP, she has held the title as Secretary, Treasurer, First Vice President, President and now Past President of this fine Association.
