City of Foley goes forward with private police force

The city voted to sign a contract with a private security company after failing to reach a new contract with Benton County. Foley has been contracting with the county to provide law enforcement since the city cut its own police staff in 2003. Foley is the first city in Minnesota to hire a private police force.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Updated:: Mar 8, 2018
Original:: Nov 30, 2011

The city voted to sign a contract with a private security company after failing to reach a new contract with Benton County. Foley has been contracting with the county to provide law enforcement since the city cut its own police staff in 2003. Foley is the first city in Minnesota to hire a private police force.

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The Peace Officers Standards Training Board rejected the city of Foley's plan to hire private security guards to replace county sheriffs deputies. Foley's attempts to switch to private security would make it the first city in the state to ditch public law enforcement services. The city says it's a cost-saving move.

The executive director of the police standards board charged with blocking an effort to hire private security to replace county sheriffs deputies says the claims are "fiction." A Foley city official confirms that the agency contacted the proposed security outfit but did not take action.

The Foley city council voted to end their contract with the Benton County Sheriff's Department to save money. They'll pay nearly half as much to a private security company instead to safeguard the city.

The central Minnesota city previously contracted with the Benton County sheriff's office but switched in a cost-cutting move -- making it the first in the state to hire a private security company to patrol its streets.

Last month, the central Minnesota city dropped their contract with the Benton County sheriff's office in order to save money. But Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson raised concern about possible legal ramifications of relying on private security.

The city recently ended its contract with the Benton County sheriff's department in favor of a less expensive deal with a private security company. Now Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has offered to help mediate talks aimed at putting security back in the hands of sheriff's deputies.

A growing number of U.S. cities are installing cameras to help deter and investigate crimes, including Duluth. Minnesota Public Radio reports the city has installed nearly three dozen cameras along Lake Superior and downtown.

Foley residents are being instructed to boil all water before using it after E. coli was detected in the city's water supply. The city says the contamination may be due to a failure to chlorinate properly, and officials await updated test results from the Department of Health.

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