Top cops express concerns with “Operation Metro Surge”

On Friday afternoon, multiple masked men wearing federal law enforcement badges showed up in Dodge Center.

In the freezing cold, they handcuffed a woman and put her in the back of a truck.

A local reporter couldn’t contact local law enforcement to learn who she was or where she was being taken.

None were present.

It's become a common scenario since thousands of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived in Minnesota as part of “Operation Metro Surge.”

“Prior to the current ICE operations, our local ICE Agents have always been very helpful and have always communicated well with our office,” Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose said. “During these current ICE operations with agents deploying out of the metro, there has been no communication with our office.”

On Wednesday, Jan. 14–the same day Owatonna High students walked out of school in protest of ICE actions–agents were at Best Boy (formerly Bushel Boy) Farms in Owatonna, according to Medford resident Phil Heim.

“ICE Agents license plates were from Florida, Virgina, Iowa and Minnesota. Most of the ICE Agents were wearing masks and had vests identifying themselves as Police, which they are not,” he wrote in a letter to the editor. “There were protesters there taking video along with some shouting and yelling but no violence.”

In fact, the Times has not been able to confirm whether any alleged federal immigration enforcement has been conducted in Steele or Dodge County.

An email sent to ICE spokespersons had not be returned as of the Times print deadline.

Operations not coordinated

In Steele County, numerous reports of federal immigration enforcement actions and activity have not been independently confirmed.

It’s a dilemma law enforcement agencies across the state are facing.

“We are aware that there are some local residents who have been detained and removed by ICE here in Dodge County,” Rose wrote. “We've only found out from family and friends of the detainee(s) after the incident, not from ICE.”

The current operation has left local law enforcement agencies in the dark, Rose said.

“Unfortunately, we don't have access to data to verify the legitimacy of their actions, to verify federal warrants or detainers, or to determine why these residents were targeted and detained,” he wrote.

The lack of cooperation is something local officials aren’t used to.

“Some of the tactics being used during these ICE operations and the failure and refusal to communicate with our office is all very concerning,” Rose said.

Official relationships

Rose is no stranger to working with federal law enforcement officials.

In the beginning of his tenure as top cop in Dodge County, David Reese was murdered, which led to a nationwide manhunt for his now-convicted killer, Lois Reese.

“We have a great working relationship with all of our law enforcement partners, state and federal,” Rose said. “We have a task force deputy who regularly assists with area task force and the U.S. Marshal operations.  We also have a great working relationship with the BCA.  Any time another agency needs to work in our county, they contact us.  We all work together to keep our cops and our communities safe.”

Building positive relationships is something local law enforcement agencies are also keen on when it comes to the public.

Especially since the murder of George Floyd, locals also have been vigilant about building strong positive relationships with the community.

But with the current federal operation, which now includes the killing of two U.S. citizens, Owatonna Police Chief Jeff Mundale said, “It certainly doesn’t help” build those positive relationships.

“We want our citizens to feel comfortable reporting crimes to improve the safety of our community,” he said. “We stand out as Owatonna Police Officers versus any other agency, uniform or patch.”

Rose explained the Dodge County Sheriff's Office only communicates with “ICE regarding someone’s immigration status…if the person is wanted for crimes (other than being undocumented) and/or is actively committing serious crimes against anyone within our communities.”

“We are absolutely concerned about how their tactics and actions reflect on our office and local law enforcement. We've worked hard to try and build trust within our minority communities,” Rose wrote. “This trust is important to ensure our local residents are comfortable and willing to come to us when crimes occur and/or when they fall victim to crimes. We don't enforce immigration or federal laws. If you are a victim, or you want to report a crime - we don't care if you're documented or not. Our responsibility is to you and your family's safety, not your immigration status.”

Cops called on sheriff

Last week, Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele and a state trooper were sitting on the north side of Medford, by the McDonald’s.

The two have unmarked vehicles.

It wasn’t long before someone called dispatch to report they were watching people.

“It was resolved perfectly because I got on the radio as quickly as the call came out and said that is us sitting here,” Thiele said.

Asked whether an ICE or other federal law enforcement would be able to do the same in that situation, he said they wouldn’t.

“We don't have their frequency, and they don't have ours,” he said.

The example is one of the fundamental issues local police see with the current state of affairs.

“The  problem is the lack of communication from letting us know if they're in the area or not,” Thiele said. “That's where the problem is.”

Thiele also confirmed his office has never been notified by ICE as they conduct operations in his community.

“We don't know anything about it until everything is completed, but we don't get called, and I doubt they call dispatch to let them know they're in the area,” Thiele said.

Meeting with partners

Thiele, who serves as the president of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, only had a few minutes to speak to a reporter for this story, as he was heading into a meeting with federal and state law enforcement partners to discuss the current situation.

“There is definitely friction between state, city, and federal authorities,” Thiele said. “And that's what our meeting today is going to be about is figuring out how can we make this work and be transparent with the trust.”

Thiele said his suggestion will be "basically framing the goals in terms of public safety and accountability.”

“Let's set some positive foundation for partnership,” he said. “Let's make sure that we can all get together and get this completed in the safest manner we can.”

Rose said local law enforcement agencies have expressed their concerns with state and federal officials on the issue.

“Most of the state officials agree with our concerns,” he wrote. “Our concerns seem to fall on deaf ears with ICE officials in the metro.”