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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 14, 1996 <br />Sheriff Bob Fletcher appeared before the Council and <br />congratulated the City on a great Canadian Days <br />Celebration. Fletcher also commented that the Little <br />Canada Historical Society deserves a lot of credit for <br />the work they have done in preserving the history of <br />the City. <br />Fletcher reported that Larry McDonald is one of the top <br />people in the country in the field of community <br />policing. The work that McDonald is doing in Ramsey <br />County and Little Canada has not been done anywhere <br />else in the country. That is, taking citizens and <br />allowing them to be out in the community participating <br />in keeping the community safe. Fletcher reported that <br />there is some liability to the County in doing this, <br />but the risk of not involving citizens is increasing <br />crime rates. Fletcher felt the City would see <br />significant results from these crime prevention <br />activities. <br />Fletcher reported that in June the Sheriff's Department <br />began significant enforcement of curfew ordinances. <br />Fletcher reported that research shows a drop in the <br />crime rate after Midnight if juveniles are off the <br />streets. There have been 400 children picked up in the <br />last six weeks. Unfortunately, one mistake was made <br />and a child was picked up in Little Canada at 11:30 <br />P.M. rather than Midnight. Fletcher reported he would <br />apologize to this family directly. <br />Scalze asked if gang activity was moving north along <br />Rice Street, or if there is a sort of demarcation line <br />such as Larpentuer or Highway 36, where this activity <br />remains south of Little Canada. <br />Fletcher reported that the bulk of gang activity occurs <br />in the inner City. Most of the gangs came to the core <br />cities from Chicago and Los Angeles during 1981 and <br />1982 and followed the crack cocaine trail. In 1988 and <br />1989 Asian children began forming their own local <br />gangs. Fletcher indicated that gang activity is <br />potentially one of the biggest problems facing suburbs. <br />Fletcher indicated that on a nightly basis young Asian <br />gangs come out and drive through the suburbs. Special <br />events and activities also attract gangs. However, the <br />bulk of violent activity occurs in the inner-city. <br />Fletcher reported that Chicago-type gang problems are <br />here in the metro area. Fletcher indicated the problem <br />is moving north to the suburbs, and usually follows the <br />path of low-cost, dense housing. For these reasons the <br />6 <br />