Volunteers Needed For Hennepin County

According to a Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office press release:

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking qualified candidates to volunteer as Special Deputies.  Becoming a Special Deputy is a fulfilling way of serving your community by working in law enforcement.

The Sheriff’s Office currently has 125 Special Deputies. Their skills and dedicated service help connect the Sheriff’s Office to the community and their volunteer work is valued at thousands of dollars each year in personnel costs. In 2011, Special Deputies provided more than 15,300 hours of service.

After Special Deputies receive training, they are sworn-in. They are scheduled to perform important public safety duties at community events, at crime scenes, on the waterways, and during emergencies.

“Special Deputies are extremely dedicated people who provide a critical component to emergency preparedness,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, “When disaster strikes, we call on our highly-trained volunteers who are ready and able to assist.”

There are countless examples of the contributions from the volunteer units.  Special Deputies have responded to many major public safety incidents and events including the tornado in north Minneapolis, the response to the 35W Bridge collapse, and the Republican National Convention. Daily responsibilities may include searching for a missing child, helping a stranded motorist, or directing traffic around a crime scene.

Special Deputies are needed in all four volunteer units: 

• Emergency Squad: Patrol roadways, assists at vehicle crash scenes and other emergencies
• Water Patrol: Educate residents about water safety and patrol waterways
• Mounted Patrol: On horseback, assist in search and rescue efforts and attend community events as Sheriff’s Office representatives
• Mobile Amateur Radio Corps (MARC): Assist with communications support by providing interoperable radio communications at large community events and emergency scenes

Special Deputies come from all walks of life -- young adults looking to explore a possible career in law enforcement, adults with full-time jobs, business owners, and retirees looking to serve in their spare time.  Prior law enforcement experience is NOT needed to volunteer. Special Deputies need to have a strong desire to help others, compassion, and time. 

The initial training program requires completion of the Sheriff’s Office Reserve School which takes place one night per week, for ten weeks. With further training, Special Deputies may serve on special units such as the Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Team. To qualify as a Special Deputy, you must be at least 21-years-old, have a high school diploma or GED, hold a valid driver's license, be a United States citizen and pass a background investigation.

The deadline to apply is July 28, 2012. To learn more, visit the volunteer section at our website, www.hennepinsheriff.org or contact Sgt. Jennifer Johnson 612-596-9818 Jennifer.E.Johnson@co.hennepin.mn.us