In the year 2002 nine Police departments and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office initiated and formed the Dakota County MAAG (Mutual Aid Assistance Group) group for agencies to utilize in SWAT type situations where a trained entry team is needed for high risk critical incident calls. The larger sized police departments in Eagan and Burnsville have their own teams and did not join this group.
A Joint Powers agreement was signed by participating cities which provides 32 highly trained officers as MAAG members and also equipment resources for participating cities and departments to utilize. A negotiation team was also created as part of the MAAG program and has 6 trained and certified negotiators that go with the MAAG group for situations where a negotiator is needed. The Hastings Police Department has two Officers assigned to the MAAG group; one is a MAAG entry team member, and one is a member of the negotiation team. The MAAG program is governed by the Chief/ Sheriff of each participating city. The MAAG program members train monthly and are subject to call out at any time.
