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CITY COUNCIL <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />ITEM NO. 8 <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: John Swenson, Public Safety Director <br />WORK SESSION DATE: December 4, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Anoka County SWAT Joint Powers Agreement <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) currently operates a stand-alone Special Weapons <br />and Tactics (SWAT) Team that provides service to all of Anoka County. ACSO has not been able <br />to staff their SWAT Team at a level that meets the Tier 1 team standards of the National <br />Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) <br />requirements. <br />The ACSO is in the process of creating a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team that will meet staff <br />requirements for Tier 1 team and will serve as a collaborative regional resource. <br />Six Anoka County law enforcement agencies had staff apply to become members of Anoka <br />County SWAT Team. One police officer from the Lino Lakes Public Safety Department was <br />successful in the application and testing processes and has been extended a contingent offer to <br />join the Anoka County SWAT Team. <br />The ACSO will be responsible for the issuance of uniforms/equipment. The annual cost to the <br />City of Lino Lakes will be $3,500 per SWAT operator. Additionally, there will be a small <br />insurance fee of approximately $150 per SWAT operator (estimated insurance amount but still <br />gathering information). Staff has included funds within the Police Division requested 2024 <br />budget to cover one Lino Lakes police officer joining the Anoka County SWAT Team. <br />The benefits of having Lino Lakes Public Safety Department staff being a part of the multi- <br />jurisdictional SWAT team are numerous. The primary benefit is the enhanced tactical capability <br />and training that this SWAT operator brings to incidents that occur in the City of Lino Lakes. The <br />team member would additionally bring back concepts and training to keep our City of Lino <br />Lakes police officers safer in the performance of their respective duties as well. Membership in <br />the multi-jurisdictional team will also enhance inter-agency relationships, communications, and <br />160