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Councilmember Johns asked for additional clarification on the amount shown in the budget. <br />Patrol Captain Frankfurth explained that an officer currently in the department with experience <br />would be selected for the drug task force positon and a new officer would then be hired to fill the <br />vacancy that would occur in the patrol department. <br />Councilmember Kuzma asked for additional information on the amount of time the drug task <br />force member would spend in Ramsey working proactively for the City. <br />Patrol Captain Frankfurth stated that the drug task force member would work primarily in <br />Ramsey but would assist with other officers on the task force when needed processing a scene or <br />assisting in a search warrant. He noted that Ramsey would also receive that assistance in return. <br />Anoka County Lieutenant Bryon Fuerst stated that the City would also be gaining assistance <br />from 12 other detectives at the drop of a hat. He stated that the task force would help in Ramsey <br />when needed whether or not the City is part of the task force but explained that if Ramsey is not <br />a member of the task force the incident would not receive priority. He explained that a member <br />agency will receive priority over non-member cities. He stated that the goal is for the City to get <br />its money's worth out of that position, the City will receive at least an equivalent amount of <br />hours, as a regular officer would provide. He advised that the Police Chief in Ramsey would <br />also receive a vote in establishing the priorities for the task force. <br />Councilmember Kuzma asked if the word is spread that Ramsey is part of the task force and is <br />becoming more proactive in the area of crime prevention and drugs. <br />Anoka County Lieutenant Bryon Fuerst noted that would be antidotal. He stated that it is an <br />impressive force when 12 detectives are processing a case or serving a warrant. He stated that <br />marijuana and meth have been a consistent issue for Anoka County and noted that heroin <br />continues to be on an uptick. He stated that so far this year the overdose deaths are slightly <br />lower than the previous year but acknowledged that heroin and opiate addiction continue to be a <br />national problem. He stated that some of the new drug trends include honey oil, which is an <br />extract of marijuana, and can be smoked in a tool similar to an e -cigarette. He stated that most <br />heinous cases in Ramsey have involved meth including a two murder incident and officer <br />shooting. He stated that he would love to have a task force member from Ramsey, noting that <br />there would be increased communication and more activity from the task force. <br />Councilmember Riley stated that historically when a city has become a member has there then <br />become an increase in arrests or activity decreasing. <br />Anoka County Lieutenant Bryon Fuerst stated that there are more arrests and search warrants in <br />cities that are part of the task force compared to those cities that are not a part of the task force. <br />He stated that arrests and search warrants will increase if Ramsey becomes a member because <br />there will be a dedicated member following the leads. <br />City Council Work Session / October 13, 2015 <br />Page 3 of 8 <br />