I am currently a member of the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department and have been
for the past 17+ years. In that time I have worked for three different
Sheriffs. I have worked in all three of the departments division, including
special units such as water patrol, Emergency Response Team and K9. I am
currently a Sergeant and have worked as a Sergeant in both the jail and patrol.
In addition, my father and grandfather worked for the Ramsey County Sheriffs
Department. As a result, I am familiar with previous Sheriffs and the history
of the department extending beyond the years that I have worked here.
I worked Water Patrol as a volunteer and paid part time deputy. During the time
that I worked in Water Patrol, which was prior to Sheriff Fletcher, we had old
outdated equipment. That equipment would without fail breakdown routinely (just
about every time it was used). Our boats and snowmobiles spent more time in the
shop than they did on the street. Our squads were hand me down suburbans, which
were several years old. They had no air conditioning and were rusted so bad
that exhaust fumes would fill the inside of the vehicle as you were driving, to
the point that officers would get sick. As a member of the Sheriffs Dive Team,
in those days the department had minimal equipment, which was outdated and
obsolete. As members of the dive team, we were told that we had to provide our
own personal gear. We had a group of dedicated divers who did use their own
gear, not knowing at the time that personal scuba gear did not provide us with
the necessary protection for the environment in which we were diving. The
reason we didnt know is because we were not given any formal training. We
handled incidents from drownings, vehicles through the ice and airplane crashes
in the lake as sport diving events. Our training sessions were simply a group
of divers getting together and going diving. We had no training on proper
equipment or techniques for Public Safety Diving. I was forced to leave the
dive team when I was hired full time. Even though I was a member of the dive
team with some training and experience, I was told I could not be a member,
because it was not related to my assignment to the jail.
With Sheriff Fletcher, the Water Patrol Unit has become professionalized. They
have newer vehicles (squads, boats, snowmobiles, dive truck and other support
vehicles) to work with. They have been given the formal training and equipment
they need to do their job and serve the public. I joined the dive team a second
time and remained a member for several years. The dive team now has the proper
equipment for diving in contaminated environments. They also receive regular,
structured and relevant training specific to Public Safety Diving. In addition,
Sheriff Fletcher has broken down the divisional boundaries to allow the dive
team to benefit from staff that has the interest, training and experience in
public safety diving, no matter what division they work. As a result the dive
team is now able to perform their job in a safer manner and able to better
serve the public.
Sheriff Fletcher was instrumental in the creation of the Minnesota Gang Strike
Force. A vital and necessary tool to combat the plague of gang violence and
other gang related crimes. Gang violence and gang related drug activity is a
serious concern and threat to the safety of our communities. All too often it
is innocent third party victims that are injured and killed as a result of
ruthless gang members and their actions. The Gang Strike Force through various
means is familiar with the gangs and their members. They target these
individuals and work to get them off the streets. A strong focused approach
like this would not be possible without the existence of the Gang Strike Force.
The Apprehension Unit is a unit created by Sheriff Fletcher. That unit is
responsible for searching for and arresting people with outstanding warrants.
While they arrest on any warrant, they specialize in finding the violent
felons, who are trying not to be found. These are not only violent felons, but
many are also repeat offenders. As a result of this unit, scores of people are
brought to court to answer for their actions. This is one more example of
ensuring safer communities for the residents of Ramsey County.
The Sheriffs Emergency Response Team (SERT a.k.a. SWAT) is now better equipped
and trained then they have ever been. In addition to updated equipment, we have
now received a wide variety of training to prepare us for the increasing and
ever changing threats that we face. In the past, the team had to relay on Viet
Nam era military flak vests for protection. Thanks to Sheriff Fletchers
understanding of our needs and commitment to the team, we now have the latest
in ballistic tactical vests. In addition, we now have the equipment and
training to safely operate in meth labs, as well as WMD incidents.
The Sheriff also recognized the value and importance of Police Service Dogs. He
increased the size of the departments K9 Unit from four dogs to ten dogs.
However, he did not just increase the size of the unit. He created a training
program with the unit. As a result, we went from have a K9 program that was
little more then four handlers with dogs to a well respected K9 Unit. In the
past there was no requirement to certify the dogs and no formal training for
the unit. Sheriff Fletcher required that the K9 Unit certify their K9 partners
on an annual basis. This is to ensure and maintain the highest level of
performance. The Ramsey County K9 Unit has become well respected within the
United States Police Canine Association. The unit has won numerous awards for
its performance on the competition field as well as for its performance on the
street. I believe Police K9s are a valuable cost effective tool. They allow us
to be safer doing our job, save us time and also help to deter crime.
Fortunately Sheriff Fletcher also has recognized the importance the Police K9
plays in keeping officers and the community safer.
Another program that Sheriff Fletcher started, that I feel was long overdue, is
the employee recognition program. In the past, it was proposed by a member of
the department. I can not say why, because I do not know, but it was felt to be
unnecessary. Sheriff Fletcher understands the importance of recognizing members
of the department that do a good job and that go above and beyond the call of
duty. On the same note, when I was hired in 1988, I was called up to the
sheriffs office after a few days on the job. Once in the Sheriffs office, I was
told to raise my right hand and took the oath. The Sheriff then tossed me my
badge and said to get back to the jail. Sheriff Fletcher recognizes new and
promotional employees with a badge pinning ceremony. As new or promotional
employees, we are formally recognized in the presence of our family, friends
and peers. It may not seem like a big deal to most people, but to those in our
line of work, it is important.
Since the day I started with the Sheriffs Department, there was always talk of
jail overcrowding and the need for a new jail. Our patrol station was a retro
fitted building that was undersized and not well suited for a patrol station.
After seven years in the jail, I transferred to the patrol division. We still
had the same jail and patrol station. I never thought I would see either
replaced in my career. Thanks to Sheriff Fletcher, we now have both.
I mentioned my seven years in the jail. When a new deputy was hired, their
first assignment was in the jail. The average time spent in the jail was 6-8
years, which later grew to 8-10 years. Under Sheriff Fletchers leadership, that
number has dropped to six months - 1 year. He is getting more licensed officers
on the streets and into jobs where they can better put their skills and
training to work to help fight crime and keep our communities safer.
As a department, we currently enjoy the best inter-department relationships
that we ever have. We have officers and units working together for the common
good. Instead of many agencies working independently, at times looking for and
chasing the same criminals, they work together, sharing information and
resources. This is a more efficient and cost effective form of law enforcement
and better serves and protects the community. Though not the only reason,
Sheriff Fletchers leadership is one of the main reasons for the new era of
cooperation between agencies.
The last thing that I will mention is Sheriff Fletchers ability to recognize
the correlation that todays juveniles have on tomorrows crime trends. The
curfew center and literacy program are great examples of his efforts to combat
that trend. The curfew center deals with something that many may feel is
trivial. However, proactive curfew enforcement keeps kids off the street at
night, when there is nothing constructive for them to be doing. It also gets
the parents involved to be more aware of where their children are and what they
are doing.
I was a volunteer with the literacy program when it was first started by
Sheriff Fletcher. Kids attending this program spent part of the time with
tutors, learning to read. The other part of the program was spent with
volunteers, which were typically members of the Sheriffs Department. Our job
was to serve as positive role models, while rewarding the kids for their hard
work. This was accomplished through a number of means. We played and taught
sports games (floor hockey, basketball, softball, dodge ball, etc.) with the
kids. They would be rewarded on special occasions with trips to Green Acres to
go tubing. Another reward was several dances that I would disc jockey for the
kids. These things were meant to provide positive role models, rewards for
their hard work and a safe and constructive way to spend their time. Because of
this program, many of the kids have completed college and become productive
members of society. The alternative would have led many of these kids to crime
and most likely gangs. Sheriff Fletchers strong commitment to this program
demonstrates his foresight and proactive approach to make our communities
safer.
Based on my knowledge and first hand experiences, Sheriff Fletcher has
demonstrated his commitment to public safety. As a direct result of having Bob
Fletcher as Sheriff, our department has never been better. We have become a
well respected department in the law enforcement community. We are now a
proactive and progressive department, whose main focus is to combat crime and
keep our communities safe. Sheriff Fletcher has proven his ability to
effectively lead the Sheriffs Department and that his primary concern is the
safety of the citizens that we serve.
Sgt. Ron Knafla
Ramsey County Sheriffs Department
Cottage Grove Resident