Hells Angels patrol racked up $185,000 of overtime

With Duluth police paying more than $75,000 in overtime, the total tab for increased law enforcement during the Hells Angels gathering three weeks ago in Carlton was at least $185,000. And that total doesn't include Wisconsin law enforcement agencies.

[linokid]

Funny how they call it Grants, lets see know that would still be tax payer monies, wouldnt it ?

[No spin zone]

And how many tickets were written/or people went to jail. I bet it's a drop in the bucket. Cops over reacted once again.

[Goldy1]

The people who will no doubt whine and complain the loudest about the costs of the law enforcement OT would also be screaming the loudest had a lack of personnel and planning resulted in property damage and increased crimes during the motorcycle gang's visit. It's called a deterrent, and it looks like it accomplished it's purpose.

[TroyfromDuluth]

the bikers have to laughing there butts off... I would

[Chuck Norris]

Wonder if any of this "grant money" can find it's way to The Metro and start eliminating these gang punks? The hug and release program isn't working.

[Buttomfly]

Goldy1 wrote:

The people who will no doubt whine and complain the loudest about the costs of the law enforcement OT would also be screaming the loudest had a lack of personnel and planning resulted in property damage and increased crimes during the motorcycle gang's visit. It's called a deterrent, and it looks like it accomplished it's purpose.

$185,000? What did they do? Use only guys who would get overtime for the extra hours? Sure sounds like it. Nice gig if you can get it. All they did was sit around and watch and harass them. Many of the people of Cloquet say they were actually looking to incite something so they could actually justify their presence. This was over reaction big time. Sadly enough, some of the tax payer money to fund this little operation came from the riders taxes too. Crazy.

[MinnePaul]

I work in downtown Saint Paul and I saw how heavy handed and unwarranted the wasted manpower and money was spent on police and such...its ridiculous to see this happening again up North. Please make it stop!

[ABS]

Chuck Norris wrote:

Wonder if any of this "grant money" can find it's way to The Metro and start eliminating these gang punks? The hug and release program isn't working.

The metro creates its own "grant" money by employing a Metro Gang Task Force to shake down innocent people.

[motley larry]

If there would have been trouble, you whiners would be the first to point fingers at how the police should have known better. Way to go taking Hell's Angels side before your own police dept. There are a lot of angry people on this website. Like Reginald Denny said, can't we all just get along?

[Fishing_guy]

We met a group of 10 Hell's Angels on a day trip to the Wolf Sanctuary in Ely. No additional cops needed there. Everyone did get along.

[Javier]

This was gross over-reaction on the part of the law enforcement, who I side with most always when it comes to policy and practices. But this was not destined to be a troublesome gathering. Idiots who cite Laughlin, NV as an example are just that, IDIOTS. Laughlin was a mix of different rival Motorcycle Gangs, this was just the Hells Angels alone, and they made our law enforcement look foolish.

[Get a Grip]

Everyone knows grant money grows on trees....right?

[Mark]

The Hells Angels didn't need to make the Law Enforcement goons look foolish. They look foolish enough. This was clearly a tempest in a teapot.

[NightRider]

While it appears on the surface to have been a vast waste of tax dollars...

What would you all be saying today if they had not added the extra law enforcement, and then something major occurred? I know - you'd all be saying that law enforcement was slacking off - not being prepared for what they should have known would be a volatile situation.

I feel there may have been a better way to prepare and have law enforcement at the ready, but be real everyone...you all would whine either way.

[Monkeybot]

Javier wrote:

This was gross over-reaction on the part of the law enforcement, who I side with most always when it comes to policy and practices. But this was not destined to be a troublesome gathering. Idiots who cite Laughlin, NV as an example are just that, IDIOTS. Laughlin was a mix of different rival Motorcycle Gangs, this was just the Hells Angels alone, and they made our law enforcement look foolish.

Except for the Outlaws, who were over in Superior at the same time. The two clubs are sworn enemies. Part of the reason so many law enforcement people were there was to deter another Custer State Park type shooting between the two clubs.

[Tony]

The Hells Angels and Outlaws are well known crminal organizations. Even though they are dumb to commit and lead a life of crime, they are smart individuals. They dont commit crimes in broad daylight and attract unncessary attention to themselves. They use these announced 'gatherings' like in Carlton to show their 'human' and 'nice' side to bamboozle the public. The extra police presence was not necessary at all. I believe I read the total tally for arrests was one DUI. The city council over reacted and a whole bunch of taxpayer money was wasted for nothing.

[linokid]

NightRider wrote:

While it appears on the surface to have been a vast waste of tax dollars...
What would you all be saying today if they had not added the extra law enforcement, and then something major occurred? I know - you'd all be saying that law enforcement was slacking off - not being prepared for what they should have known would be a volatile situation.
I feel there may have been a better way to prepare and have law enforcement at the ready, but be real everyone...you all would whine either way.

If a frog had wings, he wouldnt bump his butt. Wished i could get paid for something that might happen

[NightRider]

linokid,
QUIT WHINING!!! You'd be po'd either way.

[Observation]

linokid wrote:

<quoted text>If a frog had wings, he wouldnt bump his butt. Wished i could get paid for something that might happen

You Can!

Get yurself a Green Job!