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MINUTES OF THE
<br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
<br />Monday, January 5, 2021
<br />6:00 o’clock p.m.
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<br />Page 2 of 11
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<br />12. HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF UPDATE – Continued
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<br />noted they patrol 104 lakes and 3 rivers in Hennepin County, with Lake Minnetonka being the most
<br />active, busy, and most political, as well. Their water patrol is one of the largest inland in the United
<br />States with a large contingent of water craft. He pointed out that any water-related deaths in Hennepin
<br />County, even if one were to perish in a hot tub, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office is actually
<br />responsible. He noted people forget that water patrol does not just drive around in boats and give tickets,
<br />they are investigating as well and is again one of the best in the nation. Sheriff Hutchinson said they are
<br />in the process of trying to sell some boats to a friend of his who is a Sheriff in Massachusetts; he said
<br />even they know that Hennepin County’s older stuff is better than most agencies. They spent about 470
<br />hours this year, most of them were through the water patrol on January 1, 2020 through January 1, 2021
<br />they had 41 requests fulfilled by Orono Police Department; 4 different work ups, 16 subject work ups for
<br />the Orono officer assigned to the West Metro Drug Task Force, and the Northwest Crime Collaborative.
<br />He noted they have a good relationship with all the cities around the lake and Sheriff Hutchinson thinks
<br />Orono has always been there for the Sheriff’s department when they need them and vice versa. He
<br />introduced the Lieutenant-now-Captain and noted they have two other sergeants out there; they have 8
<br />licensed deputies, about 62 volunteer special deputies, and 13 explorers. Sheriff Hutchinson stated they
<br />have a lot of people and are staffed about 20 hours a day, but of course can respond 24/7 if needed. They
<br />have 9 boats, 4 on Lake Minnetonka, a rescue boat, 3 air boats, 8 snowmobiles and the side ski which
<br />helps recover bodies; he noted they go throughout the whole state using their technology and the skills of
<br />the Lieutenant and his crew. Since Sheriff Hutchinson has been in office, through the community
<br />outreach division they are getting more deputy involvement in the community. The Councilmembers
<br />may have seen them giving ice cream to kids throughout the County, many bike giveaways, and –
<br />especially now with some of the negative connotations of law enforcement – they are trying to get people
<br />to realize that they are the good guys, 99% of them do the right thing 99% of the time. Unfortunately, the
<br />mistakes are what make the media. Mental health is important to the Sheriff and he started the Tri
<br />Wellness program which is focused on mind, body, and spirit. They are trying to get better gym facilities,
<br />they have a full-time mental health professional for the agency which is the first in Minnesota, and they
<br />have chaplains. He shared they are also getting young deputies some financial advice because it all
<br />causes stress and if they have financial trauma, they have to work more overtime and then get burned out,
<br />which affects their mental health; working overtime or many hours at a job, people feel the strain, and
<br />they are human beings. With the Minneapolis unrest that happened in summer of 2020 and the concerns
<br />coming up with the trial on March 8, 2020, he stated the Sheriff’s Department supports protests but they
<br />do not support people breaking their stuff, hurting people, and damaging livelihood in Minneapolis or any
<br />city within Hennepin County. They will not tolerate it this time, and he knows the last time there was
<br />some communication with some politicians regarding when to act. He noted they have a metro-wide task
<br />force now and Minneapolis, Hennepin County, State Patrol, and several others are on this Board so they
<br />make decisions as a unified command; therefore, there are no politics that play a role if something were to
<br />happen after the trial. He wants people to know from Orono to Rogers to North side that they are
<br />organized and this time they will be successful and are not going to let their City burn. He noted he has
<br />said that multiple times: if you come to Hennepin County, Minneapolis, or Orono and cause problems,
<br />they have a spot for you in jail. They will do that repeatedly until they maintain some order. Protesters
<br />are allowed to be peaceful and let their feelings be known, but his office is not going to tolerate what they
<br />had last summer. He noted they are still recovering from that and they have a good system in place and
<br />he was just briefed today. With the unified command - they have enough staff and could use a few more
<br />officers on staff - the City is going to be secure, they will win this time and the people of Orono and all
<br />communities in Hennepin County should know that they will not play games anymore. He noted he can
<br />answer questions, concerns, or comments.
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