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JOINT / COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
FOR THE FORMATION OF
NARCOTICS CRIMES TASK FORCE
The parties to this agreement are political subdivisions of the State of Minnesota.
This agreement is made pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section § 471.59, as amended.
The parties hereto find that drug abuse and related violent criminal activities have
increased significantly within and between their communities in recent years. As
communities located on or near the northern borders of Minneapolis and St. Paul, a
significant amount of drug traffic, violent crime, and organized criminal gang activity has
emerged and migrated into their communities. Linked by the 610, 694, and 169 bridges
over the Mississippi River, the communities share common borders with easy access
which has provided a conduit for drug traffickers and criminal elements to utilize. The
nature of drug law enforcement, violent crime, and the criminal enterprise associated with
them does not adhere to jurisdictional boundaries. In addition, the individual parties
hereto face the difficulty of limited resources and ever - increasing demands for service
which make effective organized drug enforcement difficult on an individual basis.
The general purpose of this agreement is to provide coordination and joint
enforcement efforts within the jurisdictional boundaries of the parties of controlled
substance crimes as defined in federal, state, and local statutes, as well as related violent
crime and the criminal enterprise associated with them.
This joint enforcement project shall be known as the Anoka - Hennepin Narcotics
and Violent Crimes Task Force.
The parties to this agreement shall be the Cities of Anoka, Blaine, Champlin,
Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Maple Grove, Ramsey, and Rogers, and the
County of Anoka (herein collectively referred to as "the parties ").
A Task Force Advisory Board is formed consisting of the Chiefs of Police and
Sheriff, or his or her designee, from each party. The Task Force Commander and
supervisors will serve in an advisory capacity and shall have responsibility for
administration of the Task Force. A prosecuting attorney from Anoka or Hennepin
County will act in an advisory capacity to the Board. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office
will be the coordinating law enforcement agency and provide the day -to -day
administration of the Task Force through the assignment of the Investigative Lieutenant,
serving as the Task Force Commander. The Commander will be assisted by a Sergeant
assigned to the Task Force by any of the participating Police Departments and a
Detective Team Leader assigned to the Task Force by the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.
The Task Force Advisory Board members, which have voting authority, will be
the Chiefs of Police and the Sheriff, or his or her designee, from each party. The votes
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shall be weighed based on the number of officers assigned to the Task Force, capped at
two votes per agency.
In any issue requiring a vote of the Advisory Board, a quorum of five voting
members, representing five agencies, must be present to vote. In order for a motion to
pass, a majority of votes must be cast.
The Advisory Board shall elect a chair to conduct board meetings and serve as
liaison between the parties, the Commander, and the Board.
Section 1. Composition
The Task Force shall consist of full -time peace officers POST licensed to practice
law enforcement as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 626. One of the assigned
officers shall hold the rank of Sergeant. The assigned Sergeant may come from any
member agency. The minimum number of licensed peace officers each member may
assign to the Task Force is one (1). Each officer will remain an employee of the party
assigning the officer to the Task Force. The Advisory Board may approve a change in
the composition of the Task Force upon the request of any party. Members will inform
the Board of their staffing commitment in a timely manner as to allow for overall
planning by the Task Force Commander. No party may be required to assign additional
officers to the Task Force without the consent of the affected party.
Section 2. Chain of Command
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Advisory Board: The Advisory Board shall be responsible for the overall
management and budget of the Task Force as set forth in section V. of the agreement
Executive Committee: The Board will establish an Executive Committee whose
purpose is to conduct research and gather information to advise the Board. The Executive
Committee shall consist of the Advisory Board Chair, Advisory Board Vice -Chair and
the Task Force Commander. During the first Board meeting of 2017 the Board shall elect
from its members both an Advisory Board Chair and Vice- Chair. The term of each
position shall be one year, The Vice -Chair will assume a Board Chair vacancy by
automatic succession. After 2017, the Board will only need to fill a Vice -Chair vacancy
at the first meeting of each year.
Advisory Board Chair: The Advisory Board Chair shall be responsible for
conducting business meetings, documenting meeting minutes and facilitating
communication with members of the Advisory Board and the Task Force Commander.
Advisory Board Vice - Chair: The Advisory Board Vice -Chair will fill in for the
Board Chair during absences.
Commander /Lieutenant: The Task Force Commander shall be the head of the Task
Force and will also serve on the Executive Committee. The Criminal Investigation
Lieutenant of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office will act in this capacity at the onset of
this agreement.
The Commander shall serve at the pleasure of the Advisory Board and may be
removed by a majority vote of the Board. The Commander reports directly to the
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Advisory Board. The Commander will make the day -to -day operational and
administrative decisions of the Task Force.
Sergeant/Team Leader: One Sergeant shall be assigned to the Task Force by one
of the member agencies. One Team Leader shall be assigned to the Task Force by the
Anoka County Sheriff's Office. The Sergeant and Team Leader operate at the direction
of the Task Force Commander. They are responsible for the direct supervision of officers
assigned to the Task Force by the parties.
Officers: Officers assigned to the Task Force operate at the direction and under the
supervision of the Task Force Commander and Supervisors while assigned.
Clerical: The Task Force may hire clerical support for the Task Force from the
grant budget. The County of Anoka agrees to act as the employer of the person hired.
Section 3. Equipment
Equipment purchased by the Task Force during the grant period for Task Force
usage shall be divided amongst the parties by the Advisory Board at the end of the grant
period if this agreement is not renewed. Upon a mutually agreed dissolution of this Task
Force, all equipment owned by the Task Force will be distributed between the parties as
decided by the Advisory Board. Parties are expected to also utilize their own equipment
such as body transmitters and surveillance vans on an as- needed basis. All equipment
brought into Task Force use by an agency will remain the property of the agency
supplying said equipment.
Section 4. Facilities
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Each Task force member will work out of a centrally located office furnished and
maintained by the Task Force as provided in the annual grant budget.
Section S. Policy and Procedure
Operational policy and procedure may be developed for the Task Force based on
an examination of operational goals and administrative need. These policies and
procedures will be proposed to the Advisory Board by supervisory staff who will conduct
ongoing evaluations of Task Force operations and need. Policies and procedures will be
implemented at the direction of the Advisory Board.
Section 6 Purchase of Evidence /Information
The purchase of evidence and information shall be done in a manner consistent
with the approved policy and procedures.
Section Z Supplies
Office supplies will be provided by the Task Force under the grant annual budget.
Any supplies not itemized in the grant annual budget will be provided by that officer's
employment agency.
Section 8. Sworn Personnel
Each party is providing licensed peace officers under the conditions outlined
herein. Wages and benefits for these officers will be the primary responsibility of the
officer's employing agency during the grant period. Wage and benefit reimbursement, to
include overtime costs, may be reimbursed through the grant as approved by the
Advisory Board.
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An officer assigned to the Task Force by a party may be removed from the Task
Force by the appointment party or through a majority vote of the Advisory Board. The
party shall then appoint a suitable replacement for the removed officer.
Peace officers assigned to the Task Force shall be equipped by their employment
parties with appropriate police credentials and suitable firearms. The employment party
will be responsible for providing any POST required training to their officers assigned to
the Task Force.
The Commander may direct additional, specialized training to be paid through the
grant budget.
,Section 9. Vehicles
The Task Force shall lease up to one vehicle for each officer assigned to the Task
Force. Each party will be responsible for fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs incurred
by the vehicle(s) leased for the officer(s) assigned by that party. Larger unforeseen repair
costs may be presented to the Advisory Board for approval to use Task Force forfeiture
funds for the repair. Upon termination of this agreement, the vehicles will either be
absorbed by the parties agreeing to assume leasing obligations or returned to the leasing
agency. Vehicles owned by a party and utilized by the Task Force will remain the
responsibility of the party, as will costs incurred for the vehicle's use and maintenance.
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Section 1. The primary function and responsibility of the Task Force is to detect,
investigate, gather evidence, and apprehend drug traffickers, as well as assist in violent
crimes and gang related investigations, within the geographic area of the parties. As a
result of the nature of covert undercover operations, it is anticipated that undercover
operatives may detect or become aware of other crimes, including drug crimes, occurring
both within and outside the geographical boundaries of member agencies. The Task
Force will pursue other avenues of investigation only upon recommendation of the Task
Force Commander and by permission of the Chief of Police or Sheriff of the particular
party involved. In addition, the Task Force may be used by any of the parties for other
investigative purposes under exigent circumstances or in a capacity wherein the nature of
the investigation being undertaken requires undercover officers.
Section 2. It is the mission priority of this unit to investigate drug wholesalers (those
individuals who bring drugs into the Task Force area), street -level drug distributors, those
persons involved in the clandestine laboratory manufacturing of illicit drugs, and
individuals who attempt to acquire pharmaceutical drugs in violation of the provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 152.
Section 3. A function of the Task Force will be to gather and to disseminate controlled
substance intelligence information. The Task Force will maintain an ongoing intelligence
filing system. The Task Force will attempt to investigate those leads, maintain on file
that information, and upon request disseminate that information to the parties hereto.
Section 4. With permission of the Task Force Commander, the Task Force will
provide training to member parties requesting that service. Requests for community drug
education and drug awareness will be provided only upon permission of the Task Force
Commander and the department of that particular party.
Section S. Public announcements concerning the function of the Task Force will be
made only by permission of the Advisory Board in conjunction with the parties to this
agreement and by approval of the Chief of Police or Sheriff of the party in which that
release is to be made.
Section 6. Public announcements concerning arrests or investigations conducted by
the Task Force will be made by the Task Force Commander or the Chief of Police or
Sheriff of that party, or his or her designee, where that arrest was made, and upon
approval of the Task Force Commander. News releases concerning the Task Force's
function, investigations, and/or arrests will not be made by any Task Force officer unless
specifically requested by the Task Force Commander or the Chief of Police or Sheriff
with permission of the Task Force Commander or the Advisory Board.
VIII. FINANCIAL MATTERS
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Task Force shall be the calendar year.
Section 2. The Finance Department of Anoka County will be responsible for the
administration of all funds coming under the direct supervision of the Task Force,
whether federal grant funds or contributions of the parties.
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Section 3. The Task Force Advisory Board shall direct the Commander to prepare an
annual grant application, including proposed budget, which will be presented to the
parties on or before the application deadline set by the Office of Justice Programs,
Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The Task Force Commander shall submit the
approved grant application and budget to the Office of Justice Programs by the deadline
established by the Office of Justice Programs.
Section 4. Funding shall be in the form of a matching grant from the federal
government. The contributions of the parties shall be at least 25% of the total budget
established for the current year. An individual party's financial contribution shall be
proportioned to the number of officers committed to the Task Force as shown in the grant
application budget. The matching funds will be submitted to the Finance Department of
Anoka County by the parties at the beginning of the grant period. Any unused match
funds will be returned at the end of the grant period in a manner determined by the
Advisory Board. Payment of any outstanding financial obligations shall be made in a
manner determined by the Advisory Board.
Section S. Any assets seized by the Task Force and awarded to the Task Force through
administrative or judicial proceedings shall be distributed to the parties on a periodic
basis as determined by the Board. The formula for distribution of these assets shall be
proportioned based on the number of officers assigned for each participating agency. The
Task Force Commander will be responsible for the distribution of funds or assets seized
or forfeited by the Task Force.
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Section 6. The Commander, upon direction and approval of the Advisory Board, is
authorized to sign and enter into contracts on behalf of the Task Force as may be
necessary.
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Officers assigned to the Task Force, while performing their assigned duties as
Task Force officers in a jurisdiction other than their own jurisdiction, shall have the same
powers, duties, privileges, and immunities as conferred upon them by their own
jurisdiction. The authority granted hereunder does not constitute employment by the
Task Force or by the city or county in which the duty or duties are being performed. Any
worker's compensation claims or work related injury that may occur as a result of
working with the Task Force shall be the sole responsibility of the officer's home
jurisdiction. Further, the authority granted hereunder extends only so far as may be
necessary to complete the duties assigned to the officers and terminates at the expiration
of this agreement and any extension thereof.
The Task Force shall purchase insurance to provide liability and property damage
coverage in the amount determined by the Advisory Board. In no event will the
insurance coverage be less than the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust standard
liability coverage. The insurance shall provide coverage for all authorized Task Force
operations by Task Force members.
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Section 1. This agreement for Task Force operations shall be in effect from
notwithstanding the dates of signature by the parties, and shall continue in effect until
terminated in accordance with the provisions herein. As of September 1, 2017, this
agreement replaces the previous Joint Powers agreement between the parties, which
began January 1, 2017.
Section 2. Any party may withdraw from this agreement on December 31 of any year
by declaring its intention to withdraw in writing and providing the written notice,
delivered by mail or in person, to each of the other parties on or before July 1 st of that
year. Notice by mail shall be deemed received three days after mailing. Withdrawal by a
party shall not result in the discharge of any legal liability incurred by such party before
the effective date of withdrawal.
Section 3. This agreement shall terminate under the following circumstances:
(1) There are no remaining parties as a result of withdrawal pursuant to this
agreement; or
(2) All remaining parties mutually agree to terminate this agreement; or
(3) This agreement shall terminate automatically when grant funding for Task Force
activities is discontinued.
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Any contracts and purchases made pursuant to this agreement shall be made by the
County and shall conform to the requirements applicable to Anoka County.
Pursuant to Minnesota Statute §471.59, a joint powers agreement is to provide for
strict accounting of all funds and report of all receipts and disbursements. Any party to
this agreement may request a strict accounting at any time.
This joint powers agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties on the
matter related hereto. The agreement shall not be altered or amended, except by
agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto.
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All parties to this agreement need not sign the same copy of the agreement.
An original agreement signed by each party to this agreement shall be maintained
in the Office of the Anoka County Sheriff.
DATE: 4�— 0 , (� City of Columbia Heights
By: 91
Donna Schmitt
Its: Mayor
1,;�Z�--
B y:
Walter R. Fehst
Its: City Manager
Its: Chief of Police