12-14-2015 Councill Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 23, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 41 Stanek noted Hennepin County has the largest jail in the upper Midwest and that they book approximately 35,000 people each year. Orono had 187 bookings in 2014 and year-to-date in 2015 is 126. The jail is nationally accredited and has received the National Award for innovative inmate mental health program. Approximately one-fourth of the inmates have psychological issues. Stanek stated one major component of the service it provides to Orono and the surrounding lake communities is the water patrol. In 2015, the Sheriff’s Office spent 6,888 hours of service on Lake Minnetonka, issued 380 citations, including 33 BWIs and 2 under-aged consumption tickets. There were zero drownings in 2015 on Lake Minnesota. In 2015, there were 1,789 warrants executed, with one in Orono. The dispatch center answered approximately 570,000 calls in 2014. Stanek noted 75 percent of 911 calls are now placed from cell phones and that it is important people realize that the 911 service will not necessarily know the exact location if a cell phone is used and that it is necessary to convey the physical address of where the incident is taking place. The Hennepin County crime lab is internationally accredited and full service. In 2014, Orono had 30 cases that the Sheriff’s Office assisted in investigating, consisting mainly of burglaries and robberies. The Sheriff’s Office will send crime scene investigators to process the crime scene, take photographs, and obtain DNA if appropriate. Overall the Sheriff’s Office contributes greatly to the reduction of violent crime throughout the County due to the sharing of criminal information and analysis. In addition to the crime lab, the Sheriff’s Office works with Orono on solving violent crimes and in 2015 there were six assists in Orono. The Violent Offender Task Force had two assists in Orono. Stanek stated Hennepin County also has a Drug Task Force, which consists of five different divisions. Orono is part of the West Metro Drug Task Force. There is also a Drug Abuse Prevention Program, which collects unused prescription medications. There are upcoming drug prevention town halls scheduled in Maple Grove in January and then Hopkins in February. Stanek noted the trend is going back down for heroin deaths but that there were still 38 heroin-related deaths in 2015. Heroin use usually starts with opiate addiction through the use of prescription drugs. To assist people in disposing of prescription medications, there are now seven drop boxes across Hennepin County, with one being located at 4141 Shoreline Drive. The Sheriff’s Office also has a volunteer services division, which has more than 120 special deputies who served 20,000 plus hours countywide in 2014. Stanek stated volunteers are always needed and that the Sheriff’s Office will train them to a certain level. The Professional Standards Division focuses on training, internal affairs, reserve officer school, and active shooter training. In 2015 there were 25-plus training events with over 1,000 participants. Emergency training is also provided to businesses and residents, including safety procedures and prevention. The Community Engagement Team also works countywide by providing education outreach to diverse communities and partnering with communities on public safety initiatives. The primary objective is to teach foreign residents about law enforcement. Stanek noted there is a new trend in law enforcement to improve community policing and that the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has implemented new policies and a work plan to help accomplish that goal.