MN Ch. 387.03 lists the statutory mandates of the Sheriff. The law states that, "The sheriff shall keep and preserve the peace of the county, for which purpose the sheriff may require the aid of such persons or power of the county as the sheriff deems necessary. The sheriff shall also pursue and apprehend all felons, execute all processes, writs, precepts, and orders issued or made by lawful authority and to the sheriff delivered, attend upon the terms of the district court, and perform all of the duties pertaining to the office, including investigating recreational vehicle accidents involving personal injury or death that occur outside the boundaries of a municipality, searching and dragging for drowned bodies, and searching and looking for lost persons. When authorized by the board of county commissioners of the county the sheriff may purchase boats and other equipment including the hiring of airplanes for search purposes."
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) also create and provide a variety of programs and initiatives. Some include detainee education, opioid overdose prevention, and water and ice safety.
We aim to provide the best possible public safety services to everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Hennepin County.
Frequently asked questions:
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office mission and how we work with federal agencies
How does the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) work with federal agencies?
HCSO works with local, state, and federal agencies on criminal investigations and to enforce criminal laws. That can include cases involving narcotics, human trafficking, assault, murder, and more.
HCSO does not work with any agency on civil immigration enforcement. That means we do not assist with or comply with any civil immigration requests from ICE.
In our jail, we do not honor administrative detainers or administrative warrants. These documents are not criminal warrants signed by a judge. HCSO will only comply with a judicially-signed warrant.
That being said, our deputies do not have the authority to prevent other law enforcement agencies from carrying out their duties or to prevent civil immigration enforcement by federal agents.
HCSO will respond to emergency calls for assistance in our jurisdiction. We will also respond to scenes that have the potential to become violent.
What do HCSO deputies do during a demonstration?
HCSO’s mission is to keep the peace and to ensure the safety of everyone. We will protect the right of our community to peacefully assemble. We will go to the scene of a demonstration if there is a potential for it to turn violent.
Our duty is to maintain public safety and to make sure all laws are being followed. That means we may ask that people move if they are blocking roadways or obstructing ingress to or egress from places of business. We also may make arrests if needed to protect public safety.
I’ve seen HCSO deputies in courthouses alongside federal agencies like ICE, how can you explain that?
HCSO is mandated to provide court security, preserve the peace, and act as officers of the court within Hennepin County courthouses. That responsibility includes ensuring the safety of all individuals present and maintaining order in and around court facilities. Our deputies are at courthouses every day that court is in session.
While we may be present in shared public spaces, we do not direct or control the actions of other agencies operating under their own legal authority. When there is potential for heightened tensions or large crowds, the Sheriff’s Office may deploy additional deputies for the sole purpose of maintaining safety and preventing disruptions to court operations.
What are some identifiers the community will see on a sheriff’s deputy?
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has some uniform identifiers that deputies wear to signify that they work for the Sheriff’s Office.
1. Vests have a “Sheriff” patch on the back.
2. Uniforms have “Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office” patches on both shoulders.
3. Deputies will wear an ID tag on their chest displaying either their name or a HCSO badge number.
Tell us some of your priorities
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office exists to enforce criminal statutes, to prevent harm, to respond to victims of crime, and to keep our community safe.
Minnesota statute reads, “The sheriff shall keep and preserve the peace of the county.”
Our highest priority is the safety of individuals in Hennepin County.
Public trust is essential to public safety and we’ve worked hard to build and rebuild trust over the past several years. Trust means that victims call 911, witnesses come forward, and at a basic level that people feel safe leaving their homes.
For a full list of the statutory mandates of the Sheriff, visit: Ch. 387 MN Statutes
What is your policy on immigration matters?
HCSO is not involved in civil immigration enforcement as that is the role of the federal government. We do not work with ICE or any other agency on civil immigration enforcement. HCSO deputies will not ask someone’s immigration status. HCSO does not track immigration status.
How does your jail work with ICE?
HCSO works with all agencies who have warrants signed by a judge. If ICE presents a judicially-signed warrant, HCSO will comply. HCSO does not honor administrative detainers or administrative warrants.
What if I have a complaint about a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Deputy?
Providing quality professional services while building meaningful relationships that are sustainable within our communities, and with our partners, to ensure justice and safety for all.
