SOUTH CENTRAL DRUG INVESTIGATION UNIT
The Owatonna Police Department continued its leadership role as fiscal agent of the South Central Drug Investigation Unit (SCDIU) in 2013. This leadership role included the assignment of a police sergeant as commander as well as an administrative assistant. The Owatonna Police Department also continued to co-fund a field agent position in conjunction with the Steele County Sheriff’s Office. The SCDIU is a federally funded narcotics task force formed in cooperation with member agencies of four counties, which encompassed a jurisdictional area of approximately 2,500 square miles. Staffed by four specially trained field agents, a commander and an administrative coordinator, the task force concentrated their efforts on narcotics distribution and
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OWATONNA POLICE DEPARTMENT
narcotics related investigations. Agents also assisted member agencies with criminal investigations that have a correlation with illegal drugs. The SCDIU has developed strong partnerships with adjoining task forces—the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Together, they all take part in investigating cases that stretch beyond boundaries and have a direct impact on the flow of illegal drugs into our area. The agents also focus on public education, specifically toward young people of our communities, by conducting presentations at schools, churches, civic organizations and in the work place.