10-09-2013 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 9, 2013 information available will help reduce the number of warrants. An example is that the Department will have a "safe surrender" initiative wherein someone with a warrant (non - felony and non - violent) can come in begin the process of getting the warrant cleared. Bostrom then reported on the Sheriff's Department's partnership with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on crime scene processing. Rather than the Sheriff's Department starting its own crime labs, the BCA has trained deputies how to process crime scenes and secure evidence for BCA processing. The cost of training has been minimal and the BCA will process evidence at no charge. Bostrom reported that this collaboration has saved millions of dollars. Bostrom reported that Ramsey County has 12 deputies trained, and they partner with surrounding jurisdictions, when needed, to do crime scene processing for BCA analysis. With regard to communications, Bostrom reported on the Department's Code Red community notification system. Ramsey County residents with land telephone lines were automatically opted into the system, and the Department uses this system to notify residents about community situations within which the public can be of help. Residents can opt out of the system, if they chose to. Bostrom noted that people with cell phones can opt in. The Sheriff's Department is also using Facebook and Twitter as communication tools. Bostrom reported on the Department's prescription drug take back programs, noting that people can turn in unused prescription drugs at the Sheriff's Department's St. Paul and Arden Hills location. Bostrom noted that there is a spike in heroin use. He indicated that studies have shown that people who have used prescription pain killers (typically not their own prescription) have turned to heroin when they no longer have access to these pain killers. Therefore, it is important to get unused prescription drugs out of circulation. Bostrom also noted that the heroin that is available is at least 90% pure, thus the margin for error resulting in an overdose is very thin. With regard to hiring at the Sheriff's Department, Bostrom reported that his philosophy is to hire people with character and then train those people for skills competence. Bostrom then noted the Sheriff's Department's Annual Fright Farm, noting that information is available on the Department's web site. This event is run by volunteers, and proceeds go to the Sheriff's Foundation that helps support youth programs. 3