The Hennepin County Sheriff's Emergency Squad was originally established in 1952. 
The official title given to the squad at its inception was the HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S RESCUE SQUAD.

The squad consisted of a volunteer group of 12 "fire buffs" who previously were known as "Box 35".  This was the reserve unit that responded to fires in the Minneapolis metro area.  Under the direction of the Sheriff, the squad grew to approximately 18 volunteer special deputies whose services expanded throughout all of Hennepin County.

As times changed and Hennepin County grew, so did the function of the Rescue Squad.  In 1965 the word "rescue" was replaced with "emergency" because the squad was handling many police-related, non-criminal functions such as traffic control and a variety of other special details.

In 1967 under the leadership of Sheriff Omodt, the strength of the squad was raised to
55 Special Deputy Sheriffs and the blue uniform of the squad was changed to the traditional Sheriff's brown.

Shortly thereafter a full-time Deputy was appointed by the Sheriff to serve as a liaison officer between the Sheriff's Department and the squad.  This helped to vastly improve the communications between the Sheriff's Department and the Emergency Squad.

In 1970 the patrol vehicle, as well as other equipment of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Emergency Squad, was changed from red and white to the Sheriff's brown.

Today the Hennepin County Sheriff's Emergency Squad maintains two patrol vehicles, three boats, a light truck and a new, state-of-the-art incident command vehicle. The patrol squads are on the road 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year serving the citizens of Hennepin County.

The primary functions of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Emergency Squad are to assist at personal injury accidents, medical emergencies, search and rescue operations, drownings and backup as directed by full-time Sheriff's Deputies.  In addition, the squad also participates in numerous civic events by providing police assistance of a non-criminal nature.

Today's squad membership is composed of the most highly trained, dedicated and efficient volunteer Special Deputies ever to serve the Sheriff and citizens of Hennepin County.

Qualifications for membership in the Hennepin County Sheriff's Emergency Squad are rigid.  Applicants are eligible to be special members only after they have successfully completed a rigid training course.  In addition, applicants must meet all requirements of a Special Deputy commission.

Recruitment for new candidates is conducted each fall. Email us for further information.