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Eighth Congressional District Rep. Pete Stauber invited the public and area law enforcement policymakers and leaders to an event at Lent Township Hall, Monday night this week.  A wide-ranging list of law and order issues came up, but lack of recruits pursuing careers in law enforcement is one of the problems locally.  Tuition and debt subsidies from state and federal government could help, the local leaders told Stauber, but there needs to be more protection for the officer just doing his job and not less protection.  Also, the younger generation needs to be made aware of the positive aspects of being in law enforcement and programs should be developed to attract youth into the profession.  Rep. Stauber framed the enrollment decline in law enforcement degree programs and the “increase in crime’ as being due to the “radical defund and disparage movement” of reform activists. He also said unlawful immigration from the south is at the heart of illicit drugs being readily available, particularly fentanyl, even though this dangerous substance can be bought on the Internet. Local state Representative Anne Neu Brindley stated members in the MN House “absolutely don’t support law enforcement.”  She said some of her colleagues, and including district court judges, just “want to make the job more difficult.”   Participants included: Sheriff Brandon Thyen, Isanti County Sheriff candidate Lisa Lovering, Wyoming Chief Neil Bauer, North Branch Sgt. Dave Janssen, Braham Chief Kevin Stahl, and state lawmakers Republicans Sen. Mark Koran, Rep. Anne Neu Brindley and Rep. Brian Johnson.

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