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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, January 5, 2021 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 3 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />12. HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF UPDATE – Continued <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh said the biggest event going on regarding Orono is on the 4th of July over on Big Island; <br />over the years they have had a lot of issues and have gotten better with a lot of patrol enforcing them and <br />have drive-lanes so they can get in there when there is a problem. He cannot recall anything that <br />happened last year. He is hoping it continues because anything that happens is just a blight on their <br />reputation on Lake Minnetonka and obviously, they want it as safe as possible. Mayor Walsh thinks the <br />Sheriff’s Department did a great job last year. Minneapolis is obviously far away and they have great <br />faith in the Police Department and the Police Chief in Orono does a great job and is always prepared. <br />Mayor Walsh hopes they take care of their action in Minneapolis as well so nothing comes out Orono’s <br />way, but hopefully the patrol with the new people in charge will continue the great job they are doing, <br />especially on the 4th of July. <br /> <br />Sheriff Hutchinson said he was actually out there on the 4th of July for probably 10 hours and COVID had <br />a little to do with it but those drive-lanes did make a difference. They had the DNR and every single <br />deputy available and it is the same thing, he wants people to go have fun but as soon as someone does <br />something that is going to damage property or hurt somebody. He stated there was civil unrest last year <br />but people did not hear about it because it was lawful, had good arrests and noted that the deputies got in <br />a foot chase with one individual who was eventually caught. Again, he said they are out there and said <br />for people to have fun, legally, and noted once they cross that line, Captain Magnuson and his team will <br />take them. <br /> <br />Crosby appreciates Sheriff Hutchinson’s comments tonight and stated this community supports law <br />enforcement and they thank them; he knows they put their lives on the line for the residents’ safety and it <br />is truly appreciated. What happened last year was horrific – God-willing, with prayers and the right <br />tactics – they will not be going down that path again and he appreciates the Sheriff’s words on that <br />tonight. Regarding the water patrol, he has to throw something out there as it is a pet peeve of his as a <br />boater: he sees too many kids riding boat rails on cruisers, etcetera. Crosby said they need to start writing <br />more tickets for that, he thinks that would be terrific. Obviously, the biggest problem on any lake and <br />probably in boating and cars is boating under the influence and is what causes the havoc on Big Island; <br />after ten years on the Fire Department, he would say 90% of the calls were booze related. Crosby <br />reiterated they appreciate everything the Sheriff’s Department does, the water patrol guys are awesome, <br />and it amazes him on a hot day how they can be in that uniform. <br /> <br />Sheriff Hutchinson said the water patrol does do a great job and reiterated they are one of the best in the <br />country, not because of the Sheriff but because of the long tradition and dedicated men and women that <br />work out there. He said if one is a 20-some year-old deputy, the water patrol is probably the best beat to <br />have. He said if they could have 50 deputies out there, they would, but there is always a little funding <br />stick, especially now with the anti-police, defund stuff. It is hard for them County-wide but he thinks the <br />City needs to hold the County Board to their word, and they need to spend their money better. He stated <br />if law enforcement wants to make the strides that everybody wants from Orono to the North side, to <br />wherever, they must give more money to modernize, have better training, hire better people. Sheriff <br />Hutchinson said when people start talking about police reform, he says yes, that is great…but expect to <br />start paying new cops what we are paying doctors, because if they are asking everybody to do all this with <br />making zero mistakes, they must start paying a lot more money, especially as they are at a 25 year low of <br />applicants. In talking about police reform – they do need to do better – but to get better people, they must <br />start paying them better.