Administration
Civil
The Civil Unit serves the civil process. This includes handling and delivering legal and court documents. Documents are served on behalf of individuals, private attorneys, the court, and county departments and agencies.
They also carry out processes involving the seizure of funds. This can be through bank levies, wage garnishments and levies on personal and real property. They manage all sheriff's sales of personal and real property, including mortgage foreclosure sales.
School Resource Officer Program
The School Resource Program assigns a licensed peace officer to school districts to work within the schools. The primary goals are to promote school safety and reduce violence. These objectives are achieved through:
- Building relationships
- Maintaining clear and respectful communication
- Working with both students and staff to find positive and effective resolutions
Records Staff/Warrants/Administrative Staff
The duties of the Records Unit include:
- Handling phone calls
- Processing data requests
- Transferring cases
- Performing clerical duties
This unit manages in-person interactions during regular business hours. The staff also enter, validate and remove warrants as approved by the court.
Gun Permits
This unit accepts and processes Permit to Carry applications for Dakota County residents and non-Minnesota residents. They review active permits every year and update address and personal data changes as requested.
Apprehension Unit
This unit investigates and apprehends individuals with active arrest warrants and holds. They carry out special enforcement projects that support the goals and mission of the office. The unit works with local, state and federal partners.
Operations
Investigations
The Investigations Division provide primary investigative services to the rural areas of Dakota County, including all townships. Assist all other police agencies in Dakota County with "major crime" investigations when requested.
The division investigates crimes against people, which are committed by direct physical harm or force being applied to another person. These include homicides, assaults, domestic assaults, sexual assaults, robbery, child abuse, child sexual abuse, kidnapping, harassment and stalking.
They also investigate crimes against property such as theft, burglary, damage to property, vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting and fraud.
Patrol
The Patrol Division provides primary law enforcement services to 355 square miles of rural Dakota County. This patrol area includes about 20,000 residents living in 13 incorporated townships and six small cities.
They provide traffic enforcement and conduct initial investigation for complaints and crimes such as burglaries, domestics, alarms and suspicious activities. They respond to and assist with motor vehicle accidents and medical emergencies.
Detention Services
Court Security
Dakota County deputies maintain order and safety in the courtrooms in Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul. Each of these locations has point of entry screening that each visitor must pass through before entering the courtroom areas.
Jail
Dakota County correctional deputies manage and supervise the 263-bed Dakota County Jail. Upon arrival inmates are searched, booked, fingerprinted, photographed, showered, and are issued jail uniforms, bedding and hygiene products. Housing units are staffed 24 hours a day by correctional deputies who coordinate all of the activities in a particular unit.
Transport
The Transport Division is responsible for the transportation of inmates to ensure they make their court appearances and medical appointments. The division maintains public safety while conducting each transport in a secure and professional manner. On a yearly basis, deputies travel about 13,500 miles to pick up inmates from detention facilities across the State of Minnesota and the United States. About 1,400 individuals are transported per month.