Dakota County Chiefs of Police

1580 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033

Since 1965

March 23, 2018

Representative Erin Maye Quade Senator Greg Clausen

MN House of Representatives – 57A MN Senate – 57A

Representative Roz Peterson Senator Dan Hall

MN House of Representatives – 56B MN Senate – 56

Representative Sandra Masin Representative Rick Hansen

MN House of Representative – 51A MN House of Representative – 52A

Representative Laurie Halverson Senator Jim Carlson

MN House of Representatives – 51B MN Senate – 51

Representative Pat Garofalo Senator Matt Little

MN House of Representatives – 58B MN Senate – 58

Representative Tony Jurgens Senator Karla Bigham

MN House of Representatives – 54B MN Senate – 54

Representative Regina Barr Senator Matt Klein

MN House of Representatives – 52B MN Senate – 52

Representative Jon Koznick Senator Rich Draheim

MN House of Representatives – 58A MN Senate – 20

Representative Anna Willis Representative Keith Franke

MN House of Representatives – 57B MN House of Representatives- 54A

Dear Representatives and Senators serving Dakota County Communities:

We are writing to urge your opposition to House File 3725. House File 3725 is a bill,
which effectively rewrites current laws relating to criminal forfeiture, establishing limits
for participation in federal equitable sharing programming, and eliminating
administrative forfeitures.
 Dakota County Chiefs of Police
1580 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033
Since 1965

The Dakota County Chiefs Association is deeply concerned about this pending
legislation. We understand that there is a desire to address concerns that some have
expressed with regard to the handling of criminal and administrative forfeitures. We
believe it is also important that you hear from us the very real impact of the House File
2715. We are concerned that House File 3725 does not reflect the serious implications for
Dakota County communities.

First, it is important that we put into perspective the intended purpose of forfeiture policy
laws. When established, the goal was multi-fold, but, these policies reflect an express
desire to remove the ill-gotten benefits of criminal conduct from offenders and reinvest
the forfeited criminal proceeds into increased enforcement action, community-based
crime prevention efforts, and other public safety initiatives.

For example, the Dakota County Drug Task Force (DCDTF) is a highly effective law
enforcement and prosecution collaborative made up of law enforcement personnel from
Dakota County. In addition to the investigative resources provided by various
communities and the Sheriff’s Office, the DCDTF receives necessary and critical support
from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. Our task force is working to combat the
well-documented challenges around opioid abuse. While we recognize that treatment of
opioid addiction is a critical need, it is also necessary that we stop the flow of heroin and
related illicit substances that are resulting in the deaths of so many across our state.
While heroin and other opioid-based substances are a “top of the mind” concern, our task
force continues its work to stop the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine
and other dangerous substances that directly and indirectly affect the safety and well-
being of the people of Dakota County.

We mention our task force because more than one-third of the DCDTF’s annual budget is
funded with forfeiture dollars – money lawfully seized from drug dealers and organized
criminal enterprises. In the absence of these funds, our City Councils and County Board
will be asked to pick-up these costs. As you are well aware, Dakota County and its
collective of communities has a vast array of local and regional needs and priorities.
Asking our communities to provide almost $500,000.00 in new funding, in addition to
their current contribution of personnel for task force operations, places the cost burden on
local taxpayers instead of the criminal offenders who economically benefit from the harm
they cause. The Dakota County Drug Task Force example is just one of many examples
of how criminal and administrative forfeitures benefit the safety and livability of Dakota
County communities.
 Dakota County Chiefs of Police
1580 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033
Since 1965

We recognize that there may be areas in the current forfeiture laws that should be more
deeply analyzed and evaluated. Please know that County Attorney Backstrom, Sheriff
Leslie, and the all the police chiefs serving in the communities that make up Dakota
County are willing and committed to working with each of you to assess and evaluate
current forfeiture practices. Before action on House File 3725, we regard it as prudent to
make you aware of the implications of the wholesale changes proposed in this bill. We
ask that you oppose House File 3725 so that we might work together to forge a sound
policy over the next year that may be needed to ensure fairness, equity, and
accountability going forward. Our Association and its members are happy to meet with
you individually or collectively to discuss issues related forfeiture.

Thank you for all you do in service to the people of Dakota County and State of
Minnesota.

Sincerely,

Dakota County Chiefs Association

Mr. James C. Backstrom Sheriff Timothy Leslie

Dakota County Attorney’s Office Dakota County Sheriff Office

Chief Jon Rechtzigel Chief Eric Gieseke

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Chief James McDonald Chief Brian Lindquist

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Chief Bryan Schafer Chief Paul Schnell

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Chief Jeffrey Long Chief Kelly McCarthy

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Chief Mitch Scott Chief William Messerich

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Chief Bud Shaver

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