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West Metro Cooperative Drug Project Success
Every city in Minnesota is
faced with the challenge of how to keep illegal drugs out of the hands
of our youth. Cities in the
west metro suburbs are no different from any other community. No different,
EXCEPT that they formed a unique partnership between eight municipalities
covered by three police departments, the Hennepin County Sheriff and County
Attorney’s Office, the Minneapolis Drug Lab, the Drug Enforcement Administration,
and the Orono School District.
Medina and Orono Police Departments and the West Hennepin Department of Public Safety in cooperation with the city officials who represent the eight municipalities they serve, partnered with Orono School District #278, the Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Collaborative, and Partners in Prevention and recently “closed the loop” on efforts to prevent youth access to alcohol and controlled substances.
The three law enforcement agencies announced the
results of an intensely focused drug enforcement project at a press conference
Tuesday August 19. “Each
of our agencies tasked one officer to work nothing but dope from January
to April,” according to Orono Police Chief Stephany Good. “Our
officers did an outstanding job, and the teamwork with our community partners
was extraordinary. All of the police officers in each of our jurisdictions
made personal sacrifices to ensure the success of the project. The results
were amazing.”
Director Ray McCoy of the West Hennepin Department of Public Safety said, “We heard from students, parents, teachers and members of the community that our young people are exposed to nearly every kind of street drug and we believed we could target their suppliers. “We got the police departments that serve the west metro communities together and we put our resources where we could make a real difference.”
The police used information that came directly out of the western suburban area. It led to dealers in jurisdictions all over the metro area and even into Wisconsin. The three officers worked with the police and drug task force officers in other cities and the DEA and the FBI. They worked cases on small amounts of controlled substances that wouldn't necessarily attract the attention of a larger agency or task force. They conducted interviews, used intelligence information, prepared and served search warrants. In six months they arrested forty-one people, seized a total of $880,000 in street drugs, $108,000 cash, eight vehicles, ten rifles, and nine handguns.
“It doesn’t shock police and school social
workers to see how easily accessible drugs including marijuana, cocaine,
ecstasy, psilocybin
mushrooms, and methamphetamine are. What is shocking is that most parents
don’t know how much at risk their children really are, “ said
Chief Good. 
Orono Schools, Orono Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth, and Partners in Prevention, faith communities and the civic leaders in the west metro are sending a clear message that they will not tolerate alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and that they will continue to take positive action. “We are working on prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies simultaneously. Our communities are working together for the health and safety of our youth,” said Melanie DeLuca, Director of Community Education in Orono.
“I would like to see expanded effort because this problem isn’t unique to our area. I would like to encourage surrounding jurisdictions to combine resources for continued focused drug enforcement,” said Mayor Kent Torve, Lorretto.
All of the police chiefs expressed concerns over
resources. “We don’t
have discretionary funding for projects like this. We are very fiscally conservative
and we are concerned that the focus to cut taxes will erode the ability to
provide services. We are looking at task force grant money that is passed
through the State from the Federal Government, but we are not optimistic
that the funding will be available,” said Chief Good. With regard to
spending money to keep drugs out of the hands of youth, Mayor Jerry Rockvam,
of Spring Park said, “It’s the best money the people can spend.”
Curriculum Director and the next Superintendent of the Orono School District, Dr. Karen Orcutt said, “The administrative team is grateful to the police departments for their work, and we want them to know we appreciate it very much.”
Medina Chief Ed Belland said, “We are not permitting drug use and drug dealing in the western suburbs. Our law enforcement community, our schools, our city officials, parents, and citizens are taking this problem head-on and we are making a difference.”
“If you are a parent, you need to look for the signs and engage your child early on. Look for changes in friends, changes in behavior. Be more alert to your child’s first experience. You can seek help through the services supported by Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth.”
“If you are a young person, know that everyone isn’t using - many kids have found a good alternative here at the Discovery Youth Center. If you are involved with someone who is using chemicals - know that we are watching you.”
“If you are a civic leader, help us find the resources to do our jobs better.”
“If you are a drug dealer, don’t bother
dealing to anyone in our area. If you do, expect to face the consequences.”
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