Forest Lake, police reach deal to keep local force

Updated: 3:50 p.m. | Posted: 7:25 a.m.

Forest Lake may be keeping its Police Department after all. The union representing officers said they voted unanimously for a new agreement Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, a joint statement by the city, Law Enforcement Labor Services and the Washington County Sheriff's office says the city and its police had a new tentative labor agreement. That follows a decision by the City Council on Monday to switch to police services from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

That vote prompted loud objections at the City Council meeting, an online petition to recall the mayor and even a walkout at Forest Lake High School in an effort to save the 23-officer force.

Police had been working since January without a contract, and the union rejected an offer last weekend. That set up Monday's council meeting, where the city voted 3-2 to enter into a contract with Washington County for police services provided by sheriff's deputies. That would have effectively disbanded the police department.

The city and union statement says the union's executive director Sean Gormley and city administrator Aaron Parrish met Wednesday to talk over a settlement, encouraged by city and county officials. The tentative three-year deal they reached includes 2 percent salary increases the next two years and a 3 percent increase in 2019, as well as retiree health benefits. The deal also suggests ways to improve Police Department operations and relations with city officials.

The Forest Lake City Council will take up the new agreement at a special meeting on Monday night. The council also plans to rescind its approval of the contract with the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The Washington County Board has removed the contract for police services in Forest Lake from its agenda next week.