By Rachel Kytonen
Isanti County News

When driving down highways 65 and 95 over the next three months, you may notice a lack of Minnesota State Patrol troopers.

Isanti County Sheriff Mike Ammend informed the Isanti County Board of Commissioners during its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 18, that the county will be without the five troopers who cover Isanti County the next three months.

Ammend said he was informed by the Minnesota State Patrol captain that Ramsey County was going to be short two state patrol troopers over the next three months, and decided to pull the five troopers assigned to Isanti County.

"This will be a hardship on Isanti County and the citizens of Isanti County because there will be no state patrol presence up here," Ammend said. "I don't know how we are going to handle this this winter."

Ammend said he spoke to the captain and pleaded with him to reconsider his decision, but the captain stayed firm.

Ammend said the captain looked at the decision as a way to combine the state patrol troopers assigned to Ramsey, Anoka and Isanti counties. However, Ammend said Anoka County handles its own state highway patrol enforcement.

"The state patrol officers are going to be in Ramsey County when we need them," Ammend said. "The captain told us the state patrol will still respond when we request, but it'll just take them longer. But if they're down in Ramsey County patrolling 35W, it'll take them a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour to get up here."

Ammend said with the sheriff's department already short-handed, the loss of the state patrol coverage is damaging.

"We've had a horrendous couple of years in regard to traffic accidents on highways 65 and 95, and without state patrol coverage up here, things will only get worse," Ammend said. "This could be potentially devastating for us this winter."

Ammend said he was concerned about the reaction from Isanti County residents when they learn about the news from the newspapers.

"We pay state taxes just like the residents in Ramsey County," Ammend said. "We shouldn't be considered second-rate to a metro county. I don't understand why they needed all five of our state patrol troopers."

Isanti County Coordinator Jerry Tvedt said the public has the right to know about the lack of state patrol coverage in Isanti County.

"The public needs to be aware that the state is not doing their job," Tvedt said.

The board directed Tvedt to work with Ammend on a resolution encouraging the state patrol captain to reconsider his decision. The resolution will be sent to the governor's office, as well as local state senators and representatives.

Comment from Anne Thom, 12/21/07

The state is doing it's job Mr. Tvedt. For many years it has been reported that MN ranks 48th in the number of state troopers per capita. There has been increased demand in what are referred to as exurban communities, a problem community leaders and administrators have contributed to due to allowing explosive growth with little planning. There's one more thing to consider, if you voted along with the no new taxes crowd, you are responsible for the current issue of too few troopers also. The men and women who work in public safety don't do it for free and they certainly aren't getting rich. They have families to support as well. Therefore as the governor has refused to account for the rising cost of doing business, communities such as Isanti are going to feel the impact. It has to do with things such as not closing income tax loopholes for larger corporations and not asking folks who make more than $200,000 to pay their fair share. The result is what we see now: less money for education, transportation and public safety. Remember this when you go to the polls; you will get what you pay for.