Our Mission

Summer Patrol

Respond to Winter Accident

Special Details

The mission of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the Water Patrol is dedicated to increasing public safety through leadership, integrity and strong partnerships.

The Hennepin County Sheriff is responsible for the safety of the residents that use the three major rivers and 104 named lakes of the county. This  includes investigations of all water-related incidents within the county, regulation of lake and river activities, and enforcing the Boat and Water Safety Act.

The Water Patrol is charged with this duty and is busy year round. Lt. Steve Hartig directs the staff of one sergeant, five licensed deputies, and up to 50 volunteer special deputies and one support staff.  The Water Patrol has established a reputation for being swift water and cold water rescue experts. 

With more than 1.1 million residents and 125,000 registered watercraft, the work of the Sheriff's Water Patrol is vital. 

The Water Patrol Headquarters is located in Spring Park, Minnesota on Lake Minnetonka. It is home to four SUVs, four 26-foot patrol boats, a 16 foot boat and trailer, which is used for County-wide patrol, two inflatable Zodiacs, two PWCs, two ATV's and, in winter, ten snowmobiles. The Water Patrol also has a 21 foot patrol boat housed at the Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam in downtown Minneapolis to improve response times to river emergencies.

In addition, the Water Patrol has a 20 foot "Ice Angel"; an all purpose craft powered by an airplane propeller, which is suitable for either ice or water rescues. Click here to see pictures of this equipment and learn how it is used.

The Water Patrol also has equipment for specially trained teams for specialized search and rescue duties. The Side Scan Sonar Team searches for drowning victims and evidence under water using high tech computers and towed sonar equipment. The Airborne Rescue Team deploys from helicopters to rescue victims in that cannot be reached on foot or with other specialized equipment. The Fast-Water Rescue Team trains to rescue or recover victims in fast moving rivers and near dam spill-ways. The Underwater Recovery Team (URT) recovers victims or evidence. All these teams serve the county as well as other agencies and counties.

The Water Patrol takes an active role in educating both public safety professionals and the general public in fast water and cold water rescue. Known for their expertise in this area, the Water Patrol spends hundreds of hours annually in this effort.

Almost all these duties are handled by a highly trained team of Volunteer Special Deputies who work alongside licensed Deputies. To get an application to become a Special Deputy, click here.