MCIU is another tool for local law enforcement

Because of the increase in drug trafficking and the need for specially trained officers to work in correcting the problem, area law enforcement departments joined together in 1987 to form The Narcotic Enforcement Team (Net VI Task Force).

When NET VI was formed it consisted of Morrison, Todd, Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing and Aitkin Counties and the cities of Brainerd, Little Falls, Breezy Point, Crosby and Nisswa.

At that time Brainerd was the Hub in Central Minnesota for drug trafficking and the task force was well received.

At the time of its inception it was one of the first out-of-state task forces formed in Minnesota. And, in 1998, the NET VI Task Force was chosen by the Association of Minnesota Counties as a recipient for “Innovations to improve the quality of life in Northern Minnesota award.”

Later, the NET VI Task Force was chosen one of only six task forces nationwide to be studied by the Criminal Justice Statistical Office in Washington, DC, because of its exemplary fashion in operating.

In 2001 the task force’s board of directors, after much discussion, voted to dissolve the Net VI Task Force. Entities involved had decided to interact with other drug task forces to better fit the changing times in their respective areas.

Morrison County was invited to participate in the Central Minnesota Major Crimes Investigative Unit (MCIU). In April, 2002, the Morrison County Commissioners passed a resolution to authorize joining the Central Minnesota Major Crimes Investigative Unit (MCIU), and to participate with the necessary resources and personnel to make it effective.

Members of MCIU included Stearns, Benton, Sherburne and Morrison Counties and the City of St. Cloud.

An arm of MCIU is the Central Minnesota Drug Task Force.

In part the MCIU by-laws state “The Central Minnesota Major Crimes Investigative Unit was developed as law enforcement response to the criminal element operating in the quad county area. The goal of MCIU is to assist in providing expeditious solutions of crimes of such magnitude as to constitute a threat to the peace and repose of the citizens of the community. It is recognized that law enforcement agencies do not have sufficient staff to provide a saturation type of investigation that is sometimes necessary to effect a successful resolution of some of these crimes.”

Sheriff Tschida explained, “In essence, the MCIU was formed to assist each of the agencies in the case of a major crime in their area. If Morrison County had a major crime that totally taxes the resources of the Sheriff’s Office, we would be able to request assistance through the MCIU, and investigators from the other participating agencies would come to Morrison County for as long as necessary to investigate that crime and bring it to a conclusion. These officers would come at no cost to Morrison County because of the Joint Powers Agreement signed.”

He added, “We know that criminal activity, and particularly drug trafficking, often crosses county lines, and it has been proven time and again that by working together in a cooperative manner, law enforcement is much more effective. More drug dealers are caught, more burglars are arrested, and it just makes for a safer community all the way around. With the dissolving of Net VI and now participating in the Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, the department is able to continue to effectively investigate, arrest, and jail drug traffickers in Central Minnesota and Morrison County.”

Tschida concluded, “Another aspect of the MCIU that is of great benefit is the use of the other participating agencies’ officers in the event that we would have a major crime in Morrison County. These assisting officers would come to Morrison County with years of experience in their respective fields and bring it to Morrison County at no cost to the local tax payer.”

The Central Minnesota Drug Task Force consists of six officers assigned to work full-time combating the drug problem in Central Minnesota. Morrison County has an assigned deputy to work full time on the task force with other officers from Benton, Sherburne, Stearns County and St. Cloud PD.

The task force works very closely with neighboring law enforcement agencies and the area Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Drug Enforcement Administration.

David McLaughlin, team leader of the drug task force, told the Record, “We are much more effective in drug enforcement than individual departments because our people are dedicated full-time to this problem. After a while we develop skills other officers may not have because of the type of investigations we do continually. The special training we receive is in the drug enforcment area.”

He explained that, at the present time, 90 to 95 percent of the cases are connected to methamphetamine.

So far this year 16 meth labs have been discovered within the district. In 2001 there were 17.

McLaughlin said, “Up to this time we have not done any meth labs in Morrison County, but, I would anticipate before the end of the year we will have done several.”

The MCIU ten-member board of directors consists of the sheriff and county attorney from each county and the police chief and city attorney from St. Cloud.

The board meets monthly with the drug task force coordinator to review cases, trends and to set goals for the future along with seeing to the financial business of the task force.

At the present time Stearns County Attorney Roger Van Heel serves as current Chair of the MCIU Board of Directors.