City of Zumbrota mulls handing policing to Goodhue County

Oct. 16—ZUMBROTA, Minn. — The city of Zumbrota is examining whether to have the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office provide the city's police coverage. City leaders are considering that option on the heels of two of the city's patrol officers leaving the department to take positions with the sheriff's office, said Zumbrota Mayor Todd Hammel.

The issue will be a topic at the upcoming regular Zumbrota City Council meeting Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, and another public meeting yet to be scheduled.

No decision has been made, Hammel added.

"We haven't made a decision," he said. "We haven't done anything without telling our city."

News that the city was discussing the change came as a surprise to the union steward representing the seven-member police department, according to a social media post Friday, Oct. 13.

Tony Pasquale, Zumbrota Police sergeant and Union Steward for the Sergeants Local 425, said he first learned of the discussions between city leaders that day. He encouraged people to voice their support for the city police department at the council meeting.

"We take great pride in providing a high level of public service as community caretakers for Zumbrota's residents, businesses and to those who come to visit our beautiful city every day," Pasquale posted.

Hammel said he agrees the city department serves the city well, but the discussion is focused on funding future police coverage.

"We have great people, we have great service," Hammel said. "We have that personal touch."

However, Hammel said

finding qualified officers is difficult for small communities

and what they can offer for pay. Overall, Goodhue County agencies are short 19 officers, he added. Deputies with the Goodhue County Sheriff's office make an average of $4 to $6 more per hour than the city's police officers, Hammel said, adding he understands why two are leaving for the higher paying positions.

One officer left the city force as of Monday, Oct. 16. Another is set to leave in November. That's one-third of the city's six patrol officers and sergeants.

Hammel said that puts the city in the position of either offering pay raises to all officers or looking at other policing options.

"I see it getting tougher and tougher for us small communities to provide policing and not having it provide a huge impact on taxes," Hammel said.

That's why city leaders discussed options with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office. Pasquale expressed disappointment that officers weren't aware of those discussions until the Oct. 13 meeting. Hammel said until the officers had left, there wasn't much to discuss with the public.

"We were trying to do our due diligence, getting all our information and then going to the public," Hammel said. "It was a discussion, that's all it was — can you staff us, can you not, what's the price going to be."

The results of those conversations will be presented at the city council meeting Oct. 19, he added. Either way, Hammel said, the city will continue to have 24-hour police coverage.

A meeting at another venue will be scheduled before the end of the month, he added. That will be held at a larger venue to accommodate more people than the city offices can. The time and location of that meeting has yet to be determined.