03-14-2022 CC (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council February 28, 2022 Regular Meeting PaEe 2 1 occurred in 2021. He reviewed the activities of the school resource and K9 officers. He thanked 2 the Mounds View Police Foundation for partnering with the department to imbed an officer at 3 Colonial Village. He described how the department's reserve officers benefit the community to 4 assist with transporting prisoners and helping with outreach. He reviewed the calls for service in 5 2021 noting it was the highest number ever, which led to the highest number of arrests and 6 citations. He discussed how addiction fuels violence in a community and reported he would 7 continue to work with the County Attorney to address drug charges. He commented on the 8 benefits he was seeing in the partnership the department has with NYFS. He discussed the level 9 of turnover that has occurred within the department and noted he would continue to hire high 10 quality individuals for the Mounds View Police Department. He explained the department said 11 goodbye to K9 Niko and reported a new K9 would be arriving in the City of Mounds View any 12 day. 13 14 Council Member Bergeron thanked Police Chief Harder for his dedicated service to the 15 community and stated he was pleased to see Chief Harder was back to full duty. 16 17 Council Member Meehlhause thanked Police Chief Harder for his outstanding service and for the 18 detailed presentation. He requested Police Chief Harder express the Council's sincere 19 appreciation for the officers efforts. He appreciated how Officer Nick and Niko served as 20 ambassadors to the City of Mounds View and wished Niko a long and healthy retirement. 21 22 Mayor Mueller asked what the Chief thought 2022 would look like. Police Chief Harder stated 23 unfortunately, he did not believe the violence was going anywhere. He anticipated it would take 24 some time to get a handle on this. He discussed how there was a need for bond reform. On the 25 positive side, he indicated the department received a $50,000 grant from the State of Minnesota 26 for a virtual reality simulator, which would assist with training officers this spring. He hoped to 27 have officers out engaging with the public again this summer. He stated he was committed to 28 addressing the concerns in the community that were occurring throughout the metro area. 29 3o 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS 31 A. Resolution 9552, Approving the Hire of Nina Garcia to the Position of Police 32 Officer. 33 34 Human Resource Director Ewald requested the Council approve the hire of Nina Garcia to the 35 position of Police Officer. She reported Officer Garcia would be coming to the City of Mounds 36 View from the Minnesota State Patrol. She explained Officer Garcia has agreed to come on 37 board March 14, 2022 at the 90% top of patrol rate due to the fact she has over three years of 38 experience as an officer with the Minnesota State Patrol. 39 40 Mayor Mueller questioned how the pay rate was determined by staff and the HR Committee. 41 Human Resource Director Ewald indicated a recommendation on the pay rate was made by the 42 Police Department based on candidate experience. 43 44 MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Cermak. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9552, 45 Approving the Hire of Nina Garcia to the Position of Police Officer.