County considers rejoining Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force

Rock County may rejoin the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force.
However, membership costs have more than tripled to join the agency that prevents and deters drug and violent crimes in southwest Minnesota.
Information about BRDTF and associated costs was presented at the Rock County Board’s June 21 meeting.
Rock County dropped out of the per-capita membership several years ago due to budget constraints.
The agency was originally established in 1989 as the Southwest Minnesota Drug Task Force. It was in existence until 1996. Today’s BRDTF was established in 2005.
Now, in order to rejoin, Rock County would pay the per capita membership (estimated at $30,000) in addition to hiring a peace officer with a squad car (a $100,000 estimate) to work full time with the task force.
The officer would report to the BRDTF commander in Worthington.
If Rock County joins, it would receive about $46,000 in grants from BRDTF, according to Brian Marquardt, Minnesota Statewide Gang and Drug coordinator. He oversees the state’s 23 task forces.
“This is supposed to be a collaboration and building of resources,” he said. “What you’re putting into the pot you’re going to get a multitude back by using the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force to come over here and help investigate those crimes.”
In the past four years, narcotics cases in Rock County have doubled from an average of 18 per year in 2011 and 2012 to 45 per year the past three years.
There have been 22 narcotics arrests in the county, primarily involving small amounts of marijuana.
“Every town (in the county) has been affected,” Verbrugge said, adding that more recent arrests have involved meth and heroin.
Being a member of the task force would allow a dedicated officer to track criminal activity to the middle- and upper-level dealers, something Rock County doesn’t have  resources to do currently, Verbrugge said.
The BRDTF covers 1,893 square miles. Members include the counties of Pipestone, Nobles and Murray and the cities of Fulda, Adrian, Slayton and Worthington.
BRDTF Commander Nate Grimmius said six full-time agents currently track violent crime and drug activity and in the past 10 years have made 1,128 arrests.
The task force’s success comes from a dedicated officer’s constant contact with cases and his “inner knowledge of the community,” he said.
Earlier this year Verbrugge requested possibly adding three additional officers to his department. He is currently applying for various grants.
Commissioners referred Verbrugge’s request to the county budget and personnel committee.