Meet Your Board
The Faces of Our Association
Nicole Swanson
President
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Nicole Swanson was born and raised in Douglas County. She lives on a small hobby farm with her husband and two children. Her husband is also in law enforcement, which keeps their household very busy. Before becoming a Deputy, she obtained her bachelor’s degree Criminal Justice with a focus of Sociology from Concordia University in Saint Paul. She started her career as a Family and Youth Advocate at the Harriet Tubman Shelter in Maplewood. She eventually returned home and was hired with the Sheriff’s Office as a 911 Dispatcher, while she completed the Law Enforcement Skills program.
Since 2015, she has been with the Sheriff’s Office working in a variety of different assignments, including, Road Patrol, Water Patrol, School Resource Officer, DARE, Domestic Violence Task Force, Douglas County Sheriff’s Federation and SWAT Negotiations and Peer Support. She also serves on the Minnesota DARE Board. Most recently, Nicole completed the Women in Leadership certificate from Minnesota State University in Mankato and Minnesota Sheriff’s Association Institute for Credible Leadership certification.
Nicole believes law enforcement is a calling. It is not easy, but if you keep a pure heart and you never forget why you started, your service will be rewarding.
Abby Mumme
1st Vice President
Alexandria PD
Abigail Mumme is employed with the City of Alexandria. She started in June 2021 and is currently assigned as a patrol officer with a special focus on predatory offenders. Abby is a Use of Force Instructors and Youth Firearms Instructor. Abby graduated from Alexandria Technical and Community College with an AAS degree in Law Enforcement. She still enjoys spending time at the college and has helped act, evaluate, and teach courses since she graduated. Abby loves the lake life (paddleboarding, swimming, boating), spoiling her nieces and nephews, and training Jiujitsu.
Brianna Kisch
2nd Vice President
St Paul Police Department
My name is Brianna Kisch. I work for the Saint Paul Police department. I currently work the west district
patrol. I was assigned to our training unit for a year and a half helping teach our academies. I am a taser
instructor, RRA (response to resistance an aggression) instructor, DRE/SFST instructor, and a full time
Lead FTO. I also help teach on the side with STORM Training Group with varies different trainings for
multiple departments throughout the state of Minnesota. Teaching is my passion, and I enjoy
empowering the next generation of women who enter into the policing field.
Sara Gangle
Treasurer
Saint Cloud Police Department
Investigator Sara Gangle earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Community Psychology and Chemical Dependency from St. Cloud State University.
She began her law enforcement career in 2011 with the New Hope Police Department, serving as a Patrol Officer and D.A.R.E. Officer before joining the St. Cloud Police Department in 2014. Since 2024, Investigator Gangle has been assigned to the Criminal Investigation Unit as an Investigator. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles including Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, member of the department’s Bike Patrol Team, decoy with the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force, and assisting the Violent Offender Task Force with federal investigations during modified duty assignments. She was also instrumental in supporting the department’s Shop with a Cop program, including helping secure funding and resources to expand opportunities for local youth and families.
As a School Resource Officer, Investigator Gangle developed and implemented several youth-focused initiatives, including “That’s How I Roll,” a program highlighting Heritage Skate Plaza, one of Minnesota’s largest skate parks, and “COPS Club,” an after-school program at North Junior High School designed to build positive relationships with youth. She also served as a leader and cadre member for 13 camps of the St. Cloud Youth Leadership Academy and helped implement and instruct the PRYSE Program, which focuses on supporting youth impacted by incarceration within their families.
Investigator Gangle remains actively involved within the department as a member of the recruitment team, awards committee, and wellness committee. Her leadership roles reflect a strong commitment to community engagement, accountability, and mentorship.
She has been a member of the Minnesota Association of Women Police since the beginning of her law enforcement career in 2011 and is passionate about empowering women to reach their full potential, engage in difficult conversations, and develop resilient leadership skills. Throughout her involvement, she has served in multiple board positions including Historian, Communications Director, President, and currently Treasurer.
Prior to entering law enforcement, Investigator Gangle worked with juveniles experiencing mental health and chemical dependency challenges at the Hennepin County Home School and Dakota County Juvenile Detention Center. She also maintains an inactive Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) credential through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.
Outside of her professional career, Investigator Gangle is the owner of Sugar Whipped Curated Confections, where she combines creativity and community through custom sugar cookie artistry and classes. She and her husband, a retired police officer with 28 years of service, are proud parents of two young boys. As a family, they enjoy gardening, riding ATVs, traveling, and spending time outdoors in all seasons!
Christina Mignone
Secretary
Grace Church
Guided by faith and grounded in law enforcement experience, I serve as a strategic safety leader within the school community. In my role as a School Resource Officer, I steward church campus security initiatives, collaborate with administrators on threat assessment and crisis response planning, cultivate proactive partnerships with students, staff, and families. Committed to integrity, accountability, and mentorship, I balance enforcement responsibilities with prevention-focused engagement, ensuring a secure learning environment while fostering trust, education, and positive youth development.
Mignone is a dynamic and versatile professional with a strong background in law enforcement, recruitment, mentorship and recruitment marketing strategy. She served on the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Community Engagement Team as the Recruitment, Engagement, and Mentorship Associate and Graphic Designer for the department.
Mignone’s professional career began in customer service and as a photography business owner/graphic designer, where she developed a strong foundation in creativity, entrepreneurship, and client engagement. She later transitioned into public safety, serving as a Reserve Officer and Community Service Officer with the Elk River Police Department, followed by five successful years serving as a Minnesota State Trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol. During her time she built trusted relationships within the community and sharpened her communication, leadership, and design skills. As an enterprising professional with a creative approach to problem-solving, Mignone brings innovation and strategic thinking to every role. Her passion for meaningful engagement led her to focus on recruitment, where she now leverages her diverse experience to attract, connect with, and inspire the next generation of law enforcement professionals while living out her faith. Mignone has mentored over 60 aspiring law enforcement professionals and provided recruitment guidance to more than 30 agencies across Minnesota and has been invested in the MAWP mission since serving as the Secretary since 2023 on her second term.
Yajaira Casillas
Historian
Mankato Department of Public Safety
Yajaira Gloriel Casillas serves as a Patrol Officer with the Mankato Police Department and has been with the department since 2016. Prior to becoming a police officer, she worked as a Correctional Officer with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office.
Officer Casillas earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University. She is proud to be the first member of her family to become a police officer and the first to graduate from college.
As a bilingual officer fluent in English and Spanish, Officer Casillas values building trust and strong relationships within the community. Throughout her career, she has been involved in several community outreach and specialized assignments, including the Tapestry program, Predatory Offender Tracking Team (PORTT), Drug Court, and as a Mobile Field Force Instructor. She has also served as a SPEAR defensive tactics instructor and assisted surrounding agencies with translation services.
Outside of law enforcement, Officer Casillas enjoys learning about different cultures, traditions, and languages. Her passion for mentorship and community engagement began during college while working with youth programs supporting students facing academic and behavioral challenges. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, relaxing on Minnesota’s lakes, dancing, watching sports, and making memories with her dachshund, Willie.
As a board member and historian for the Minnesota Association of Women Police, Officer Casillas looks forward to continuing to support leadership, professional development, and community engagement within law enforcement.
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Cassandra Jaeger
Debora Ocloo
Immediate Past President
St. Cloud Police Department
Debora Ocloo has been employed with the City of St. Cloud since October 2016. Throughout her career, she has served in several roles, including Patrol Officer, University Liaison Officer on the Campus Area Police Services Unit (CAPS), Community Response Team (CRT) within the Community Engagement Division, and Investigator with the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force (CMHTTF). She currently serves as a Sergeant in the Patrol Division.
Passionate about mentorship and empowering others, Debora co-founded Women of Worth (WOW), a mentorship program for young women in grades 8–12 in the St. Cloud area. She is dedicated to fostering positive growth and creating meaningful opportunities for youth in her community. In addition, Debora has served with the St. Cloud Youth Leadership Academy (SCYLA) as a Cadre member for both the boys’ and girls’ programs and as a Drill Sergeant for the girls’ camps. Debora has also had the privilege of leading a Women in Law Enforcement retreat the past few years through Protectors Peak in Idaho, a place where servants can go to rest, renew, and reconnect with God.
In addition to her primary duties, Debora has participated in numerous specialty assignments within the department, including Recruitment, Peer Support member and team Coordinator, Crime Scene Technician, Forensic Phone Analysis, Defensive Tactics Instruction, and Academy-related training and mentorship. She is also a 500Rising women’s self-defense instructor and has taught self-defense courses at St. Cloud State University and within the community.
A native of the St. Cloud area, Debora earned both her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and her Master of Arts in Special Studies, with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions, from St. Cloud State University.
Outside of work, Debora enjoys spending time with family and friends and has a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Her interests include fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, bonfires, traveling, and staying active, with a recent focus on Jiu-Jitsu and remains actively involved in serving and supporting her community.
Debora also served a total of five years on the MAWP Board, holding the roles of Historian, Communications Director, and President. She is grateful for the opportunity to have served the organization and honored to have led it as President.
Communications Director
Stearns County Sheriff's Office Dispatch
Cassi started her 911 Telecommunicator career at the Stearns County Sheriff’s office in 2016 and it developed into a lifelong calling. She was promoted in 2024 to a Lead 911 Telecommunicator which allowed her to educate others on mentorship and the value of having pride in the work that they do.
Cassi is also trained as a Tactical Dispatcher and serves as a Field Training Officer (FTO), helping develop and support new telecommunicators. She also played an active role on the build team for the agency’s new Tyler CAD System implementation.
When the shift has ended, she is usually spending time with friends and family. You can likely catch her on the lake, camping, or horseback riding.