by April Scheinoha
Reporter
The city of Thief River Falls and Pennington County are moving forward in joining a regional crime task force.
At its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2, the council approved joining the Pine to Prairie Violent Crime Task Force full-time with the estimated $100,000 cost to be split with Pennington County. The matter passed by a vote of 6 to 1. Council Member Edwin Dale Hahn voted in opposition. Earlier, Council Member Elvera Cullen left the council meeting to attend another meeting.
The task force is a multi-jurisdictional group that would concentrate on drug enforcement and related crimes. The Pennington County Board earlier approved joining the task force; however, the board was under the impression that the assigned officer would come from the city ranks. The city would then need to hire another officer to cover police duties in the city. However, this proved to be problematic.
Due to the change in plans, the County Board is expected to consider hiring a deputy to serve full-time with the task force. The county would then have to hire another deputy to cover law enforcement duties in the county. The board is expected to consider that matter at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Two weeks ago, City Council agreed to serve as an associate task force member with a final determination to be made at the meeting Tuesday. That decision was made after the full council learned a police officer had resigned and another police officer indicated he wasn’t interested in joining the task force full-time. That vote came after the Parks and Recreation/Public Safety Committee recommended full membership, and the County Board had voted to be a full member with the city splitting the cost with the county.
At the latest council meeting, Sheriff Ray Kuznia said there is a severe drug problem in Thief River Falls. He noted drug problems lead to an increase in crimes and taxes. Kuznia added that the northwest corner of the state is the only portion of the state not covered by a drug-related task force.
Kuznia went on to say that he doesn’t think it would work if the city and county were an associate member of the task force. He said the entities wouldn’t receive feedback and information would also be missed. Kuznia also indicated that the state wouldn’t reimburse a portion of the officer’s salary and benefits if the entities were an associate member.
Commissioner Darryl Tveitbakk said the county’s Law Enforcement Committee plans to recommend that the county hire a deputy to work full-time with the task force. “We’ve got a problem, and we need to do something,” he said.
Council Member Rachel Prudhomme apologized to Kuznia and Tveitbakk. She said she was angry since the city committee voted more than once to join the task force full-time. She said it seemed like individuals decide and dictate what the city will do. Prudhomme, who was absent from the last council meeting, said she was shocked by how the situation was handled.
Mayor Jim Dagg replied that some council members didn’t know that an officer had resigned prior to the last council meeting. He added that the city is also in the process of hiring a police chief.
Council Member Glen Kajewski, who serves on the Parks and Recreation/Public Safety Committee, later indicated that the committee’s recommendation was among the options presented to the council.
Committees may make recommendations, but that doesn’t mean that the council will follow those recommendations. Hahn said that the committees can’t make commitments on behalf of the city. He added that full membership in the task force would cost a total of $100,000 to $120,000, which includes salary, benefits and a squad car. The city and county would split the cost.
Prudhomme countered that the benefit would outweigh the amount the city and county would get in return.
Hahn replied that the city has only so much revenue. He said the city needs to start with policing its own community. Hahn also referred to the need for more housing and recreation opportunities in Thief River Falls.
Prudhomme responded that Thief River Falls needs to be a safe community first.
Council Member Jerald Brown, who serves on the Budget/Finance Committee, said the city can quickly find $50,000 for full membership in the task force.