01102000 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

59. RegulaL Meeting January 10, 2000 Page 8 excesses. Chief Griffith stated they can provide monthly status reports to the Council. Mr. Doiron stated he is glad to see this pr~-active approach. It was consensus of Council to proceed with Mr. Maseley's request. Chief Griffith will bring further information to the Council in a couple of meetings. Mr. Gilley stated Staff will get a breakdown on the information requested by Mr. Mihalkanin and Mr. Taylor can gather information from former Assistant City Attorney, Mario Gutierrez. Mr. Moseley stated he would also like to receive a report from Judge Allegro. Mayor Moore introduced a discussion regarding the Hays County Narcotics Task Force. Mr. Moseley stated he would like the same information provided to the Council on this task force. Chief Griffith advised the Council this task force includes City Police and the Hays County Sheriff's Department. This type of task force has been in existence a long time. Regis DeArza, a captain with the Hays County Sheriff's Department, is commander of the task force, and stated they prepare monthly reports. Mr. DeArza stated they primarily go after narcotics traffickers mainly dealing in San Marcos and Hays County with street traffickers who are selling to users. He stated occasionally they find a lab or someone growing marijuana. Mr. Doiron asked Mr. DeArza to explain Rusty Windell's situation. Mr. DeArza stated Alexander Windell had three arrest warrants and on May 24, 1999, the Task Force, Hays County and City Police, went to arrest him for those warrants. They were met at the door by Mr. Windell with an assault rifle pointed at the officers. The officers took action to protect lives and Mr. Windell was shot. Mr. DeArza stated the morning of May 24, 1999, the Task Force had arrest warrants for 21 people, 33 separate charges, in the Wimberley area. Approximately 10 teams were formed to do the arrests and met at 4:00 a.m. to receive a briefing and received packets containing maps, criminal histories and arrest warrants. All the officers involved were in uniform, except the members of the Task Force were not in uniform but were identifiable as officers. The Task Force planned to go early so they could find as many at home as they could. They made an effort to try to locate them at their places of residence. Mr. Doiron asked Mr. DeArza if an informant of the Task Force gave alcohol to a minor. Mr. DeArza stated between February and May there was an investigation wherein they talked with the informant three or four times. The surveillances did not show a minor. Mr. DeArza stated the goal of the Task Force is to provide drug enforcement for San Marcos and Hays County, and that no number is set how many arrests will be made. Mr. DeArza stated narcotics will continue to exist, but there will continue to be an ongoing effort to control the flow of narcotics to San Marcos. A diligent effort is made to enforce the drug laws. They have dismantled three drug labs and predominently deal with marijuana. Mr. Mihalkanin stated he would like to discuss some of these issues in Executive Session. Mr. Moseley stated he would like the Council to receive reports and review them and then share information with the public. He wants to determine if we are being cost effective. Mr. Mihalkanin stated he would like to have some basic information, such as costs, etc., figures of arrests without going into any specifics such as persons arrested. Mr. Doiron stated dialogue is needed to address what is happening. Mr. Cox stated he believes the matter does need to be discussed on a policy level. Mr. Gilley stated legitimate public policy concerns have been discussed at this meeting and will benefit the operation of the Police Department and information will be provided to the Council and public. Mayor Moore introduced the City Manager's Report. (1) Mr. Gilley asked the Council if they wanted to meet in a Workshop on Friday, January 14, or Saturday, January 15, and the Council advised they want to meet on Friday, January 14, 2000. (2) Mr. Gilley stated the recent broken water line was not easily detected, because it was flowing into the river. Once determined, it was resolved quickly. It was 26 hours before service was fully restored allover town. Mayor Moore introduced the City Attorney's Report. report at this meeting. Mr. Taylor had no