by Peter Bodley
Managing editor
ABC Newspapers

Anoka County law enforcement agencies have responded to a request for help from the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of the collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis Wednesday evening.

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office sent its 20-member dive team to the scene soon after the bridge plunged into the river.

The dive team comprises deputies from different departments of the sheriff’s office as well as members of the sheriff’s reserves, according to Capt. Robert Aldrich, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

All are trained divers, Aldrich said.

In addition, equipment, including three water vehicles used by the dive team, accompanied the deputies to the disaster scene, he said.

“Diving operations are expected to take three or four days,” Aldrich said.

The Coon Rapids Police Department has responded to a Minneapolis Police Department requested to metro law enforcement agencies for a total of 75 officers to help with traffic and perimeter control through Sunday at 6 a.m.

According to Capt. Cary Parks, Coon Rapids Police, two Coon Rapids officers from each eight-hour shift will be in Minneapolis from this afternoon (Thursday, Aug. 2) through 6 a.m. Sunday.

There will be a Coon Rapids Police presence in Minneapolis 24 hours a day until early Sunday morning, Parks said.

The officers assigned to Minneapolis will include both on-duty and off-duty personnel, he said.

Minneapolis and metro area law enforcement agencies have a mutual aid agreement in the event of major disasters or events, Parks said.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

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