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Law Enforcement

 
 

Deputies respond to all calls for service within the county and perform a broad range of activities which include investigating crimes such as disturbances, domestic violence incidents, suspicious persons and vehicles; answering calls for assistance; responding to accidents; administering first aid to the injured; transporting prisoners and individuals with mental disorders. Deputies also serve civil papers and arrest warrants.

Work Schedule

Patrol deputies work four days/twelve-hour shifts on a four days on, four days off rotation.

Special Activities

In addition to their regular duty assignments, deputies also have opportunities to explore interests and develop new skills. These activities include such department-wide functions as: background investigations of potential deputy sheriff candidates; field training officers for newly hired deputies; Boat and Water Safety; snowmobile patrol; DWI saturation patrol; illegal drug investigation; arson investigation; and membership on the Emergency Response Team (ERT).

Crime Mapping

The Sheriff offers a crime mapping service that is available to the public through BAIR Analytics' tool, RAIDS Online. RAIDS Online, connects law enforcement with the community to reduce crime and improve public safety. Crime mapping helps the public get a better idea of the crime activity in their area so they can make more informed decisions about how to stay safe. You can filter by type of crime, date range, location, etc.

Duty Stations

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office maintains an office in Ely, MN.  This office houses four deputies who provide law enforcement services for the Ely community.  Their patrol area encompasses approximately 200 square miles of rural and lake properties.  Deputies in this duty station are often called upon to work overtime.

Outlying duty stations in Cook, Orr, and Kabetogama - The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office also has outlying duty stations in Cook, Orr, and Kabetogama.  They cover approximately 1800 square miles, composed primarily of wilderness area, with the major population areas being Cook, Orr, Crane Lake, the Lake Kabetogama area, the Lake Vermilion (West End) area, and a variety of other small residential areas scattered throughout the region.  The patrol area includes Voyageurs National Park and a portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  Patrol is done by motor vehicle, snowmobile, and boat in this area.

Contract Cities

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services on a contractual basis for the cities of Mountain Iron and Kinney.  The Sheriff's Office receives payment for patrol coverage and associated costs for this additional service and staffing requirements.

City of Mountain Iron - The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement services for the community of Mountain Iron.  The Mountain Iron Sheriff’s Office consists of one Sergeant and five deputies and their patrol area is approximately 52 square miles.

ERT Team

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team (ERT) has 40 plus members who respond to various “high-risk” situations throughout the County.  The Emergency Response Team was formed in 1985 and is one of the most active teams north of the Metro area.

The primary duties of the Emergency Response Team are:

  • Respond to situations involving barricaded and dangerous suspects.
  • Execute dangerous and high risk arrest or search warrants.
  • Crowd Control/Riot and civil protests involving mass arrests.
  • Situations where the use of chemical agents are required.
  • Provide security for Dignitary protection.
  • Respond to Hostage situations.

The Emergency Response Team is on call 365 days a year for not only St. Louis County, but any jurisdiction in the seven county “Arrowhead” area of Northeastern Minnesota.  The Emergency Response Team has been deployed for many outside agency assists including Police Departments, Sheriff’s Offices, State Agencies, and Federal Agencies.

Each member of the team has highly specialized training in many areas of expertise, and the team trains on a monthly basis.  Each member must complete a certified, basic SWAT training course.  Additionally, the team trains with numerous other teams throughout the state.  Members are voted onto the team by existing team members.

The Emergency Response Team is organized into several sub-teams.  These include, snipers, chemical agents teams, scout teams, hostage negotiation teams, entry teams, and command. 

In addition, there are other, more specialized team assignments.  This would include the Meth Lab Entry Team, and the Emergency Response Team Medical Staff.  The Medics are supplied through a mutual aid agreement with the City of Virginia and the Fire Department.  The Medics are Paramedics and carry Advanced Life Support at all times.  The Medics train in all aspects of the team. The Emergency Response Team also employs a licensed psychologist for various functions.

The team possesses state of the art equipment, vehicles, and weaponry, and has successfully resolved the worst and most dangerous incidents in St. Louis County for over twenty years.

Contact

In emergency or to file a report, call 911.

Duluth Sheriff's Office
218-726-2340
Email

Hibbing Sheriff's Office
218-262-0134

Virginia Sheriff's Office
218-749-7134

St. Louis County Jail
218-726-2345

All contacts