Stevens County Sheriff's Office

Working from the law enforcement center inside the Stevens County Courthouse in Morris, Minnesota, the Stevens County Sheriff's Office is organized into administrative, corrections and patrol branches. Patrol deputies enforce traffic laws, investigate crashes and crimes, run crime prevention efforts and teach and enforce water and snowmobile safety. The corrections branch books prisoners and moves them between the jail and court, while administrative staff keep records, handle civil process and oversee communications. That communications center is the county's public safety answering point, taking every 911 call placed in Stevens County around the clock and dispatching for two police agencies, four fire departments, three first responder groups and an ambulance service. Its dispatchers also watch courthouse security cameras and electronically control entry to the building. Deputies serve on West Central SWAT, a regional team that joins five county sheriff's offices with area police departments and trains monthly in entry, sniper, negotiation and medical support roles. Since 2006, a volunteer Sheriff's Posse has helped deputies at festivals and street dances, in search and rescue and with crime scene management. Crime victims can follow an offender's custody status through the Minnesota VINE notification service.