Cities, county clash over law enforcement agreement

The debate over the contract language in the 28E agreement between Humboldt County and local towns regarding law enforcement coverage continued to heat up April 13, at a meeting of the Dakota City Council. The Council invited Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger, County Attorney Jon Beaty and Humboldt County Supervisor Chair Jerry Haverly to the meeting, to explain what they perceived as an “about face” regarding possible changes to the agreement. Dakota City Mayor Don Faltinson and members of the Council believe the county should enforce city ordinances. Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger listed reasons why that was not possible or practical for every town in the county. “We heard from Jon (County Attorney Beaty) and Dean (Sheriff Kruger) that day (March 21) and they believed that the contract would work the way it was written,” Haverly said. “After reviewing Dakota City’s city ordinances, the only one that couldn’t be covered as a state violation was urinating in public, and we could cover that through other means,” Kruger told the Council. Beaty said the sheriff’s department does respond to all calls, even instances about property line disputes, which are clearly civil matters and not violations of a criminal nature, the county attorney reported. A lengthy and at times heated debate ensued. To read all about it and the eventual outcome, read this week's Humboldt Independent newspaper. Subscribe to print or digital editions by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

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