Duluth Taxpayers Foot a Bill of Nearly $300,000. For What???

The week before the August 2009 Sturgis Bike Rally, members of the Hells Angels from around the country gathered in Duluth, Minnesota for their Summer Rally.  What followed was a media frenzy fed by continued police reports on the notoriety of the club and the problems that follow the club from city to city.  In reality, there were no problems caused by the club and its associates.  The only shameful activities were biker harassment by law enforcement. 

Local business suffered the most because club members restricted their movements to avoid the inevitable traffic stops and hassles.  More disturbing is the fact that besides the lost revenue from bikers who would have been eager to spend money at various establishments, taxpayers ultimately would be paying for the increased police activity to the tune of close to $300,000.  In fact, that figure may be conservative.  Duluth police alone tallied over $75,000 in overtime, covered by three state and federal grants which provide for extra patrol and security operations.  Some other agencies dividing up the grant monies included Fond du Lac Reservation Police, Minnesota DNR, Moose Lake Police, St. Louis County Sheriff's Department, Carlton County Sheriff's Department, Cloquet Police Department and agencies from several other local townships and communities.  Of course, the ATF, FBI, and other federal agencies were also on hand.

Was this huge expenditure of money and manpower needed?  It depends on who you ask.  The Hells Angels, local bikers and local townspeople would say it was a waste of time and that the club was peaceful.  Law Enforcement, on the other hand, claim it was necessary to keep the peace and the fact that there was no trouble was directly related to the increased police presence.  You decide which side you believe. 

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