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Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
AbbreviationHCSO
MottoDedicated to increasing public safety through leadership, integrity and strong partnerships
Agency overview
Formed1852
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionHennepin County, Minnesota, Minnesota, USA
Map of Hennepin County Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction
Size606 square miles (1,570 km2)
Population1,140,988 (2008)
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersMinneapolis, Minnesota
Agency executive
Website
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is the sheriff's office for Hennepin County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. HCSO's main offices are in Minneapolis City Hall in the county seat of Minneapolis.

The office manages the county jail, patrols waterways, provides security for the District Court, handles home foreclosures, participates in homeland security activities and in law enforcement, and by state law is responsible for handling applications for permits to carry a firearm for residents of Hennepin County.[1][2][3] The HCSO Crime Lab Unit is one of six crime labs in Minnesota accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board.[4] The HCSO Patrol Unit provides supplemental patrol coverage to a number of smaller police agencies in northwestern Hennepin County as well as specialized patrol service and assistance to all Hennepin County law enforcement agencies. In addition, the Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement service provider to the following:[citation needed]

History

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full length portrait of empty vehicle
Hennepin County Sheriff's car

Patrick D. McGowan (R) was elected sheriff in 1995.

The HCSO was a major component of the Metro Gang Strike Force, which was created by the state legislature in 2005 after the Minnesota Gang Strike Force was dissolved.[5] It was shut down in 2009 due to rampant corruption and abuse.[6][7]: 2  In 2010, a $3 million settlement was reached between the agencies that made up the Strike Force and 96 individuals who claimed to be victims of misconduct by the Strike Force.[8][9]

Richard W. Stanek (R) was elected sheriff in 2007. Later in 2007, Sheriff Stanek used $30,000 of civil forfeiture funds that were earmarked for training to produce a video on the I-35W Mississippi River bridge; this incurred criticism from the mayor of Minneapolis R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan, who claimed the video contained false information and stole credit from the city government.[10] The company that produced the video was also used by Stanek for his 2006 campaign.[11]

2016 deployment to North Dakota

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In October 2016, the HCSO provided support from its special operations division in response to North Dakota officials' mutual aid requests,[12] for the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, causing an outcry from Hennepin County citizens and leaders.[13][14] HCSO deputies were deployed to Morton County, North Dakota, along with deputies from neighboring Anoka and Washington Counties, from October 23–31, 2016 as part of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact agreement between the state governments of Minnesota and North Dakota.[15]

Hundreds of citizens protested daily at Hennepin County Government Center and Minneapolis City Hall [16] Among political leaders opposed to Sheriff Stanek's decision were Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith,[17] U.S. Representative Keith Ellison,[18] state Representative Peggy Flanagan,[15][19] state Representative Karen Clark, state Senator Patricia Torres Ray, Minneapolis City Council members Alondra Cano and Cameron Gordon,[20] Civil rights organizer Clyde Bellecourt[12] and Hennepin County commissioners Marion Greene, Linda Higgins,[21] and Peter McLaughlin who, in a Facebook post said, "Indian Nations have a special interest in this issue and that interest must be protected! There's plenty for the Sheriff to do here in Hennepin County," said McLaughlin. "It is not a priority use of the Sheriff's office resources, which the Sheriff controls by virtue of his election.[22]

An online petition by Honor the Earth called on the Sheriff's department to desist in its participation.

We are residents of Hennepin County, MN and we are alarmed at the deployment of Hennepin County Sheriff's Department forces to North Dakota to take part in the hyper-militarized and violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline. In our judgment, the demonstrations by water protectors on and near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation have been overwhelmingly peaceful, prayerful, dignified, and reverent. They have been exercises of the inherent human rights and constitutionally protected rights to freedom of speech and assembly. (...) Hennepin County has absolutely no place and no right to support such activity with our tax dollars. We hereby call on all Hennepin County Commissioners and Sheriff Richard Stanek to immediately withdraw all Hennepin County forces from North Dakota.

— Honor the Earth[23]

In response, Sheriff Stanek issued a statement explaining that his office responded to the request from North Dakota to maintain "the public's safety, preserve the peace, and protect the constitutional rights of protesters" and that the deployment was a routine mutual aid agreement between law enforcement agencies.[24][25] Minnesota deputies were released from their duties in Morton County on October 31 after the state fulfilled its part of the EMAC agreement.[19] Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton stated in an interview that the deployment was a routine mutual aid response, and that "It sounds like they conducted themselves very professionally."[26] Financially, North Dakota eventually reimbursed Hennepin County for the salaries of the officers sent there, but not for the overtime hours needed by the officers who remained behind on duty in Hennepin County.

George Floyd

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The HCSO was among the agencies that responded to the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul in 2020.[27] Later, the HCSO was responsible for taking custody of Derek Chauvin and the three Minneapolis Police officers who failed to intervene during the murder of George Floyd.[28][29]

2021 – present

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In December 2021, Sheriff Hutchinson pled guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge after crashing his vehicle near Alexandria, Minnesota. He was sentenced to two years of probation.[30] Although the crash report showed that Hutchinson was driving 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) at the time, he was not charged for extreme speed.[31] Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan called for his resignation,[32] Hutchinson announced he would not seek reelection.[30] In November 2022, Dawanna Witt was elected as the 29th Sheriff of Hennepin County, making her the first woman and person of color to hold the position.[33]

Awards and honors

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U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services Demonstration Site

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HCSO was named one of 15 nationwide demonstration sites for "policing in the 21st Century" by the COPS Office of the federal Department of Justice.[34]

2016 IACP/Booz Allen Hamilton Award for the Outstanding Prevention of Terrorism

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HCSO, along with the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Police Departments, was presented the 2016 Outstanding Achievement in the Prevention of Terrorism Award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police at the IACP national conference in San Diego.[35] The award is given annually by IACP to one domestic U.S., and one international law enforcement agency.[36]

2019 ASIS International Public-Private Partnership Excellence Grant in honor of Matthew Simeone

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HCSO was granted the ASIS International Public-Private Partnership Award in recognition of its Shield program, which builds relationships between law enforcement and local businesses and security providers. The award was presented at the annual ASIS conference in Chicago.[37]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "What We Do". Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  2. ^ Hughes, Art (September 29, 2004). "Government Center shooting brought security changes". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  3. ^ Mador, Jessica (April 13, 2007). "Hennepin County foreclosures on pace to double". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  4. ^ Miller, Kristen (December 7, 2017). "Hennepin County considers shift in management of forensic services". hometownsource.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Collapse of the Metro Gang Strike Force". Twin Cities. August 20, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Hanners, David (August 25, 2009). "How did the Metro Gang Strike Force lose its way? Lawmakers hope to find answers". Twin Cities. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  7. ^ James Nobles, Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) (May 20, 2009). Metro Gang Strike Force Special Review (Report). Financial Audit Division Report. Saint Paul, Minnesota: State of Minnesota. p. 38.
  8. ^ Nelson, Tim (August 25, 2010). "Gang Strike Force victims reach $3M settlement". MPR News. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Furst, Randy (August 5, 2012). "Payouts reveal brutal, rogue Metro Gang Strike Force". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  10. ^ Kaszuba, Mike (December 15, 2007). "Some smell politics in Stanek's $30,000 training video". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013.
  11. ^ Collins, Bob (December 20, 2007). "Stanek's training video". MPR News. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Furst, Randy; Brunswick, Mark (October 26, 2016). "Metro county deputies deployed to North Dakota pipeline protests". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "HCSO Faces Backlash After Sending Deputies To Standing Rock". CBS-Local. October 25, 2016. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  14. ^ Hersher, Rebecca (October 12, 2016). "Protests Disrupt Pipelines Across The Northern U.S." National Public Radio News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Williams, Brandt (November 1, 2016). "Minnesota sheriffs defend giving help to police at Standing Rock". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  16. ^ Dupuy, Beatrice (October 29, 2016). "Pipeline protesters angry with Hennepin County sheriff pack Minneapolis City Hall". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  17. ^ Bornhoft, William (October 28, 2016). "Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Blasts Lt. Gov. Tina Smith over Dakota Access Pipeline Involvement". Minneapolis Patch. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  18. ^ Williams, Brandt; Wastvedt, Solvejg (October 28, 2016). "Demonstrators echo N.D. Pipeline protest at Minneapolis City Hall". Minnesota Public Radio. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Williams, Brandt (October 31, 2016). "Hennepin Co. sheriff's deputies leave Standing Rock protest". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  20. ^ "Cameron Gordon Facebook Post". Cameron Gordon Facebook Page. October 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Marion Green Facebook Post". Marion Greene Facebook Page. October 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  22. ^ "Peter McLaughlin Facebook Post". Peter McLaughlin Facebook Page. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  23. ^ "ACTION ALERT: Call on Hennepin County to Withdraw Forces from Standing Rock!". Honor The Earth. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  24. ^ "Hennepin County deputies deployed to North Dakota pipeline protests". Fox 9 News. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  25. ^ Chanen, David (November 1, 2016). "Politics played no role in deputies sent to North Dakota pipeline protest, sheriffs say". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  26. ^ Davis, Don (November 1, 2016). "After pipeline protest, Minnesota deputies return home to criticism". West Fargo Pioneer. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  27. ^ Eischens, Rilyn (May 27, 2021). "One year later, few charges for the arson and destruction". Minnesota Reformer. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  28. ^ Xiong, Chao; Walsh, Paul; Olson, Rochelle Olson (April 21, 2021). "Derek Chauvin cuffed after murder, manslaughter convictions in death of George Floyd". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  29. ^ Sullivan, Becky (February 24, 2022). "Three ex-Minneapolis police officers guilty of violating George Floyd's civil rights". NPR. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  30. ^ a b Brown, Kyle (February 8, 2022). "Hennepin County commissioners to discuss Sheriff Hutchinson in closed meeting". KSTP.com Eyewitness News. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  31. ^ Addy, Jason (January 21, 2022). "Sheriff Hutchinson Escaped 'Extreme Speed' Charge After DWI Crash". Southwest Minneapolis, MN Patch. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  32. ^ Reddekopp, Morgan; Addy, Jason (January 21, 2022). "'Breach of Trust': Walz, Flanagan Call For Hutchinson To Resign". Southwest Minneapolis, MN Patch. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  33. ^ "Dawanna Witt will become Hennepin County's next sheriff". Star Tribune. November 8, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  34. ^ "Building Blocks of Community Policing". U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office. Archived from the original on January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  35. ^ Palm, Brent (October 18, 2016). "Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Receives Prevention of Terrorism Award". KSTP-TV. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  36. ^ "IACP Booz Allen Hamilton Outstanding Achievement in the Prevention of Terrorism Award". International Association of Chiefs of Police. Archived from the original on December 8, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  37. ^ "2019 ASIS Foundation Scholarship & Grant Recipients". www.asisonline.org. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
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