Sheriff’s Office Newsletter - March 2021

To view each of the different stories in the March 2021 newsletter (Volume 7, Issue 3), please click on the tabs below.

A Note from Sheriff Torgerson

A Note from Sheriff Torgerson

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program

Captain Mike Bromberg

There are commonly declarations that jurisdictions of all sizes strive to attain in recognition of the hard work being done each day, year after year. Unfortunately, the illegal drug trade is very active in SE Minnesota centered in Olmsted County. The designation from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ODNCP) based in Washington DC awarded to Olmsted County in 2019 was one we sought by application in hopes the money that would become available to enhance our efforts. But at the same time disappointed that other agencies across the state were telling us to apply. Thus, we were happy/unhappy to be awarded this designation because it meant our illegal drug concerns were real and significant. HIDTA stands for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Our HIDTA designation meant the following criteria must have been met:

• The area is a significant center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation, or distribution.
• State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies have committed resources to respond to the drug trafficking problem in the area, thereby indicating a determination to respond aggressively to the problem.
• Drug-related activities in the area are having a significant harmful impact in the area and in other areas of the country; and
• A significant increase in allocation of Federal resources is necessary to respond adequately to drug-related activities in the area.

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are in all 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The DEA plays a very active role and has more than 1,500 authorized special agent positions dedicated to the program. At the local level, the HIDTAs are directed and guided by Executive Boards composed of an equal number of regional Federal and non-Federal (state, local, and tribal) law enforcement leaders. The 2021 national HIDTA annual budget is $290 million.

HIDTA brings Intelligence resources, forensics, training, and operational resources for our staff to utilize in illegal drug investigations. Funding from HIDTA allows us to purchase investigative equipment for our deputies. Olmsted County joins St. Louis County and the Twin Cities Metro Area along with law enforcement agencies from Wisconsin in the North Central HIDTA. The application included our partnership with Rochester Police Department and the SE Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET).  The focus on the growing concerns were heightened with several significant drug cases that included dealers in significant cases where narcotics officers and deputies were engaged with and arrested several violent offenders from Mexico, SW United States and California. It was clear Olmsted County was becoming a destination for trafficking and dispersal throughout the region as well as the Metro area, Duluth, Wisconsin, and Chicago. HIDTA Counties in the Twin Cities metro reached out to Rochester PD initially to encourage our application. Once the application was completed it had to be cleared by the Minnesota HIDTA Board, then the Wisconsin Regional HIDTA Board before heading to Washington DC for the ODNCP designation. Monies received are designated to support investigative efforts through purchasing equipment and updating technology.  None of the money can be used to support salaries. 

Recently the Olmsted County Health, Housing and Human Services departments conducted a Community Health Needs assessment. That assessment identified our communities feel Mental Health concerns, Financial Stress and Substance Use including alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs as our greatest concerns.  We are hopeful our enforcement efforts coupled with our partners in the County’s other departments we can work on and reduce the concerns and issues caused by those three factors of need in our communities. The HIDTA designation will help but like all social challenges we can’t just legislate and enforce change, we must want to change also.  It takes a village.

Virtual Storm Spotter Training

Virtual Storm Spotter Training

Special Olympics Athlete Highlights

Special Olympics Athlete Highlights

As we prepare for the upcoming Polar Plunge on March 20th, we wanted to highlight some of our athletes.

Travis Whitcomb has been with Special Olympics for over 25 years. He has participated in bowling. swimming, (athlete and coach) track and field, (athlete and coach) basketball, softball. In cycling he went to the 1995 Special Olympics International Games in New Haven, Connecticut. Travis participated in the very first Polar Plunge and has been a plunger in every one since then. He has been active in several Torch Runs and Tip A Cop. Being involved in S.O. is the highlight of his life. His parents are Brian and Diana Whitcomb.

Anne MacGillivray has participated in numerous sports with Special Olympics started a number of years ago with the original Special Olympics team called Special Olympics Rochester Area (SORA) and now with the Rochester Flyers Special Olympics team. Anne has participated in many of the sports available through Special Olympics, but swimming remains as her primary sport.  Anne has joined the Law Enforcement Torch Run several years as the Flame of Hope is run from Rochester to Hastings as well in Tip A Cop fundraiser events. Anne has been an annual participant in the Polar Plunge jumping every year since 2003 and sometimes being the top individual fundraiser not a Super Plunger. Lastly, if you’ve ever experienced an Anne MacGillivray hug, you know you’ve been hugged. 

With COVID-19 challenges, the Plunge committee led by local law enforcement, Special Olympics Minnesota and the Rochester Flyers Special Olympics team has had some challenges. Limits will be placed on how many plungers will jump, belly flop, swan dive and cannonball into the cool waters of Foster Arend lake on Saturday, March 20th. All the money raised goes to Special Olympics Minnesota and the Rochester Flyers Special Olympics team which boasts over 300 athletes regionwide on their team.   

The Rochester Polar Plunge, with its more than 11,000 plungers, has raised over $3 million in its nineteen-year history. This year’s Plunge presents new challenges but we are undaunted in our efforts to support these amazing athletes. Register today!

Monthly Snapshot

Monthly Snapshot - Southeast MN Violent Crimes Enforcement Team Statistics

Captain Mike Bromberg

Dates of Interest

Dates of Interest

Note—these are regular dates—please verify these meetings are taking place as well as the forum they’ll be held in.

March 1

Oronoco Township Meeting

Pleasant Grove Township Meeting

Quincy Township Meeting

Rochester City Council Meeting

March 2

Elmira Township Meeting

High Forest Township Meeting

Olmsted County Board Meeting

March 3

Salem Township Meeting

March 4

Dover City Council Meeting

March 8

Cascade Township Meeting

Chatfield City Council Meeting

Orion Township Meeting

Rock Dell Township Meeting

March 9

Byron City Council Meeting

Marion Township Meeting

New Haven Township Meeting

Stewartville City Council Meeting

March 11

Eyota City Council Meeting

Rochester Township Meeting

March 15

Eyota Township Meeting

Kalmar Township Meeting

Oronoco City Council Meeting

Rochester City Council Meeting

March 16

Farmington Township Meeting

Olmsted County Board Meeting

Pine Island City Council Meeting

March 17

Haverhill Township Meeting

March 22

Chatfield City Council Meeting

Viola Township Meeting

March 23

Byron City Council Meeting

Spring Awards Program

Stewartville City Council Meeting

March 25

Eyota City Council Meeting

Olmsted County Fire Meeting

Olmsted County Township Association Meeting

March 29

Dover Township Meeting

Senior Administration

Senior Administration

Sheriff

Kevin Torgerson