Unit Spotlight


Washington County Sheriff's Reserve PAGE 2

+  Washington County currently has six county parks comprising 4,288 acres and is projected to add two additional parks with an additional 2,725 acres.   In 2003, 1.6 million visitors entered the Washington County  Park system. Visitor surveys confirm the overwhelming majority felt safe in the parks they visited.   This safety can be directly attributed to the Sheriff's
Reserve who is empowered by the Washington County Board of Commissioners to patrol the entire park system. The county park  system also includes 25 miles of the Hardwood Creek Trail running  from Hugo MN, North to the border with Chisago County. During the  winter of 2000-2001, snowmobiles did over $40,000 damage to newly paved trails. During subsequent winters,  the Sheriff's Reserve relentlessly patrolled this trail to help prevent additional damage to the trail and to educate snowmobilers on the laws and their responsibilities.

+  There are two beautiful state parks within Washington County.  William O'Brien State Park, with 1,520 acres, and Afton State Park,  with 1,695 acres, had over 418,000 visitors last year. Inevitably  someone enjoying the scenic trails becomes disoriented or lost.  The Sheriff's Reserve has trained in land-based rescue/recovery with the  Minnesota National Guard and Minnesota Department of Natural  Resources. This invaluable training has been put to good use when  the Sheriff's Reserve has repeatedly been called out to assist in locating missing hikers or campers, bringing assurances to the families waiting back at the camp site that everything possible is being done to return their loved one safely back to them as son as  possible.

+  Washington County has large expanses of rural area ideally suited for riding snowmobiles and all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs).   Several members of the  Sheriff's Reserve are Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  certified instructors who conduct youth and adult safety training  courses. The courses teach the basics of safe and responsible riding, operating procedures, machine maintenance, rules and regulations, accident prevention, environmental awareness and a code of ethics. The  Sheriff's Reserve believes that an educated rider is a safer rider.  Reserve deputy sheriffs also assist in patrolling snowmobile and ATV  trails throughout the county to ensure that citizens are in full compliance with applicable laws and to provide quick response in the event of accidents and/or injuries.

+  Reserve deputies check the homes of county residents who are out of  town on vacation during the winter months.   This free service allows  homeowners to enjoy their vacation knowing that their homes are  being routinely checked while they are away.  Reserve deputies also  distributed "Crime Alert" letters to areas experiencing an increase  in burglaries.   An alert citizen noticed suspicious behavior after  being instructed on what to look for by Reserve deputies. The tip resulted in the arrest and  conviction of a burglary ring.   Recognizing the importance of volunteer service, members of the Sheriff's Reserve volunteer their  time and talents to support other volunteer organizations by providing crowd control and directing traffic for charitable events  such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Challenge Walk, Special Olympics Run, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Motorcycle  Run, and the Harley-Davidson Lightening Run for Charity that utilize  Washington County trails and roads.

+  In addition to normal patrols, Washington County Reserve deputy  sheriffs have been effectively utilized during 24 emergency call-out  situations. The most resent was on April 18, 2004 when Reserve deputies provided traffic control at the sites of fallen trees and power lines that were blocking streets and highways after a severe  storm hit Washington County.  Other emergency situations have  included securing crime scenes, searching for evidence, recovering victims after boat accidents and drownings, helping locate lost  persons, providing traffic and crowd control at fires, aircraft accidents, and other events drawing a crowd.

+  The services of the Washington County Sheriff's Reserve are available to any law enforcement agency. Reserve deputies responded to mutual aid requests from the Saint Peter, Granite Falls, and  Woodbury Police Departments after tornadoes devastated their towns.  Reserve deputies provided secure perimeters around damaged areas, thwarted looters, directed traffic, relieved local law enforcement officers who needed rest, and provided a secure environment for local residents in their time  of need. The city of Cottage Grove asked for assistance in securing an aircraft crash site. Members of the Sheriff's Reserve immediately responded, relieved police officers so they could return  to their duties, and helped secure the crash site until the National Transportation Safety Board completed their investigation later in the week. The Sheriff's Reserve also  responded to an urgent call from the Fridley Police Department and assisted with traffic and crowd control during a visit from  President George W. Bush. 

+  The Minnesota Territorial Prison in Stillwater caught fire in 2002 and burned to the ground.  The Sheriffs Reserve assisted Stillwater Police in traffic and crowd control while 15 volunteer fire  departments fought the ferrous fire.   An initial investigation suspected the fire was arson.   The Sheriff's Reserve assisted in  securing the suspected crime scene around the clock until the Minnesota Fire Marshall and Federal agents completed their investigations.

+  The Washington County Sheriff's Reserve conducts an 18 week Reserve  Deputy Sheriff's Academy, beginning in January, for citizens interested in becoming a Reserve deputy sheriff. Applications are  accepted during October and November. Interviews and background  investigations are conducted in December. The Academy gives an overview of the Sheriff's Office,  instructs individuals in proper administrative procedures that will be utilized, and provides specific law enforcement training that is needed for patrols.   The current Academy class will graduate on May  19, 2004, bringing the strength of the Sheriff's Reserve to 40  members.   The Sheriff's Reserve also conducts ongoing monthly  training in various subjects pertaining to law enforcement.

MPROA Reserve Unit Spotlights:
> Eden Prairie Police Reserve
> Maple Grove Police Reserve
> Pequot Lakes Police Reserve
> Saint Cloud Police Reserve
> Saint Paul Police Reserve
> Sherburne County Sheriff's Reserve
> Washington County Sheriff’s Reserve

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