We know this community supports us: St Paul police union chief

Key Concepts

• Cooperation (Law Enforcement): The collaborative effort between different law enforcement agencies (local, state, federal) to achieve common goals.
• Fraud Investigation: The process of examining financial records and other evidence to uncover fraudulent activities.
• Criminal Aliens: Non-citizens who have committed crimes and are subject to deportation or other legal actions by federal authorities.
• Law Enforcement Resourcing: The allocation and deployment of personnel, equipment, and funds within law enforcement agencies.
• Crowd Control: The management of large gatherings of people to prevent disorder, violence, or property damage, often involving specialized tactics and training.
• Mobile Field Force Team: A specialized police unit trained and equipped for rapid deployment to manage civil unrest, riots, and large-scale public order incidents.
• Field Force Configuration: The tactical arrangement and deployment strategies used by police units during crowd control operations.
• Separation Ordinance: Local laws or policies that limit or prohibit local law enforcement agencies from assisting or cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
• Political Rhetoric: Language used by politicians or public figures, often with persuasive intent, which can influence public opinion and policy.
• Officer Morale: The collective attitude, confidence, and satisfaction of law enforcement officers in their work and agency.
• Border Czar: An informal title for a high-ranking official responsible for overseeing border security and immigration policy.

The Imperative of Inter-Agency Cooperation in Law Enforcement

The discussion centers on the critical need for cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies, particularly concerning immigration enforcement and public safety, while also touching upon the challenges posed by political dynamics and differing mandates.

The Recipe for Success: Cooperation

Tom Homan, referred to as the "Border Czar," unequivocally states that "the recipe for success here is simple, cooperation." He clarifies that the expectation is not for local police to act as "immigration officers," but rather as "cops working with cops" to achieve the shared goal of "working to take criminal aliens off of street." Homan emphasizes that the "withdrawal of law enforcement resourcing depends on cooperation," implying that a lack of collaboration leads to fewer federal agents available on the streets for other duties. Conversely, "as we see cooperation happen, then redeployment will happen," indicating that effective partnership frees up resources.

Local Law Enforcement's Perspective and Specialized Role

Mark Ross, President of the St. Paul Minnesota Federation Police, provides the local perspective, highlighting the need to "differentiate between local and federal laws." He explains that local police primarily operate in a "support role when needed," managing local situations "better and differently from our federal partners." Ross argues that while federal partners have their job, and local police have theirs, "a little coordination on front end" for "major operations" within the city would be immensely beneficial. This front-end coordination would allow local police to deploy "resources to handle crowd control and traffic control," areas where they possess specialized training.

Crowd Control Expertise and the Impact of "Stand Down" Orders

The conversation underscores a significant disparity in training: local police departments, like St. Paul's, are highly trained in "crowd control" and "field force configuration," a capability that "Border Patrol and I.C.E. have" not. Dagen references the 2008 Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities as an example where local police expertise in crowd control was crucial. Ross confirms that St. Paul's "hundred member team," their "Mobile Field Force Team," is "trained in crowd control and formation," a capability honed after events like the "spoil and riots after George Floyd" in 2020. He cannot imagine Border Patrol training being "similar to this," a sentiment echoed by another speaker who states it "probably shouldn't be that is not their job." The issue arises when local officers, despite their training, receive "orders coming from for your officers to stand back, stand down," which hinders effective public safety management.

Officer Morale and the Influence of Political Rhetoric

Ross expresses the profound impact of political dynamics on local law enforcement, stating, "It saddens us at a local level" when officers witness how their own cities treat federal law enforcement. He notes that officers "all got into this job with noble intentions" and, despite their "missions are different, but at the end of the day they are similar." The challenge lies in maintaining morale amidst a "difficult spot," particularly when officers need to "tune out political rhetoric" that "gets lost in shuffle." Ross affirms that "our street cops... know they are appreciated by the community members" and that "police calls for service don't stop coming in we'll keep doing that." He emphasizes that "partnership is everything."

Recent Headway and the Chain of Command

Ross acknowledges a positive shift, expressing gratitude that "Border Czar Tom Homan came to town," as he "has brought people to the table and communicating." This has led to "finally making headway," though Ross laments that it's "sad that it happened this late in the game, this started two months ago." He clarifies that local officers "take our orders... from our police administration," who in turn "answer to local political officials." Despite these political layers, Ross assures that local police are "happy to go out and help when we called" and, crucially, "If one of those agents if there is a crisis, they need us we'll be there."

Synthesis and Conclusion

The discussion highlights a fundamental tension between the operational necessity of inter-agency cooperation and the political and jurisdictional barriers that often impede it. While federal agencies like ICE and Border Patrol focus on immigration enforcement and criminal aliens, local police possess unique expertise in areas like crowd and traffic control, which are vital for managing large-scale operations within city limits. The lack of "front-end coordination" and the issuance of "stand down" orders, often influenced by "separation ordinances" and "political rhetoric," not only compromise public safety but also negatively impact the morale of dedicated officers. Despite these challenges, there's a clear desire from both federal and local law enforcement to collaborate, driven by shared "noble intentions" and the understanding that "partnership is everything." Recent efforts to improve communication, exemplified by Tom Homan's outreach, offer a hopeful sign that these long-standing issues can be addressed, leading to more effective and safer communities.