Sponsor: Sheriff's Office
Title
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Seventh Amended Joint Powers Agreement of the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the Seventh Amended Joint Powers Agreement of the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team between Ramsey County and the cities of Maplewood, New Brighton, Roseville, Saint Paul, White Bear Lake, Mounds View, and Saint Anthony for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, and will automatically renew for two additional one-year periods, through December 31, 2027.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Joint Powers Agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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The state of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, provides statewide funding for multi-jurisdictional violent crime enforcement teams with the goal of reducing violent crime and stopping the flow of narcotics and weapons into the community. Every year, agencies from across the state apply for grant funds through a competitive selection process. Currently, there are 21 grant-funded teams that span 70 counties, including Ramsey County.
In Ramsey County, deputies from the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office along with officers from the Saint Paul, Roseville, Mounds View, Maplewood, White Bear Lake, and New Brighton Police Departments and agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) form the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET). Additional partners include the Ramsey County Attorney's Office and the Minnesota National Guard Counter-Drug Task Force.
Since 2005, Ramsey County has had a violent crime enforcement team. In addition to focusing on violent crime and narcotics enforcement, Ramsey County’s VCET also engages in public education and community outreach to increase awareness of the dangers of drugs and to help prevent crime. This county-wide effort was first formalized with a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) in February 2005 and has subsequently been renewed several times by the governing bodies of each of the participating agency over the years.
All jurisdictions receiving state funding for a VCET must establish a JPA as permitted in Minnesota Statutes 471.59. A JPA governs each VCET and establishes an advisory board with representatives from each participating law enforcement agency and an attorney representative from one of the member agencies. The Minnesota Legislature also established the Violent Crime Coordinating Council (VCCC) to provide guidance, direction, and oversight of the multi-jurisdictional teams located throughout the state.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has completed a Seventh Amended JPA for the Ramsey County VCET to include the city of Saint Anthony. The initial term of this JPA is from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, and will automatically renew for two additional one-year periods, though December 31, 2027.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
There is no direct racial equity impact linked to this agreement. This action is administrative only and Ramsey County’s involvement serves the entire community.
Community Participation Level and Impact
As part of the grant funds provided from the state, funding is allocated for community outreach and community providers who work with at-risk youth to equip them with the skills needed to resist becoming involved in narcotics and gangs. Prior to COVID-19, VCET also facilitated and spoke at parent and community education events in partnership with schools, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, and other organizations.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The VCET grant is budgeted in the Sheriff’s Office 2025 budget. The VCET grant award totaled $470,755 in 2021, $495,000 in 2022 and $495,000 in 2024. Grant funding supports the investigation and prosecution of violent crime. Grant funds also support community outreach, prevention and youth intervention services.
Last Previous Action
On December 13, 2022, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the Sixth Amended Joint Powers Agreement for the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team for a one-year period, from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods (Resolution B2022-281).
Attachments
1. Seventh Amended Joint Powers Agreement