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<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Annual Report from Sheriff Matt Bostrom <br />SeptembMeeting <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To assist with the problem, the Ramsey County <br />Sheriff’s Department is sponsoring several drug <br />education forums this fall. These events will <br />take place in October and will focus on regional <br />and national trends in drug abuse. The events <br />will feature education and recovery programs <br />that are available. (See page 4 for forum <br />information.) <br /> <br />The Sheriff’s Department continues to sponsor <br />a prescription drug drop off center at the Arden <br />Hills facility, and at the Ramsey County Law <br />Enforcement Center, 425 Grove Street, St. <br />Paul. This allows any citizen to easily drop off <br />unused prescription drugs so they can be safely <br />disposed of. <br /> <br />Lastly, Bostrom highlighted efforts to provide as <br />much community outreach by officers as <br />possible. With this in mind, the department is <br />sponsoring several “Coffee with a Cop” events <br />at local Caribou Coffee locations. (For instance, <br />there was one scheduled for the Rice and 694 <br />location on October 7 between 2-4 p.m. <br /> <br />In terms of feedback the department has <br />received from citizens in light of national events, <br />Bostrom says it has never been as supportive <br />and positive. “We have generally received more <br />thank you’s for our services than ever betore.” <br /> <br />For more information on any of these items, go <br />to www.co.ramsey.mn.us/sheriff <br /> <br />Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom gave a <br />law enforcement status report at the September <br />15 Gem Lake City Council Meeting. He was <br />there to provide his annual review of law <br />enforcement goals, programs and trends. <br /> <br />Since his election in 2010, Bostrom has been <br />very involved in communication with the contract <br />cities his office serves. Typically, Bostrom has <br />been present for at least one Gem Lake City <br />Council meeting each year. <br /> <br />At the September meeting, Bostrom focused on <br />subjects such as improvements in detention <br />facility procedures, the coming of body cameras <br />for law officers, community outreach and drug <br />education forums. <br /> <br />Regarding detention facilities, Bostrom said at <br />any one time, between 300-450 people are <br />being detained at the Ramsey County Jail. To <br />improve the efficiency of communication to the <br />outside world, Ramsey County detention center <br />allows limited use of email and video <br />conferencing between inmates and their <br />families. <br /> <br />Rules and procedures for the use of body <br />cameras for law enforcement officers are now <br />being discussed in Minnesota, said Bostrom. <br />There is a good deal of work to be done to <br />insure that citizen privacy needs are balanced <br />with the public’s right to know what officers are <br />doing and how they are conducting themselves, <br />says Bostrom. Examples of situations that need <br />careful planning include situations involving <br />sexual assaults, and other sensitive matters. <br />Bostrom feels present drafts of some of these <br />rules need further tightening. <br /> <br />One of the major problems facing counties <br />across Minnesota is the spike in drug addiction <br />problems both to legal drugs, such as <br />prescription pain killers, and illegal drugs, such <br />as Heroin. <br /> <br /> <br />