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Staff/Services/Special
Teams
Staff:
The position of sheriff is an elected
position. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has 60 full-time employees
and 23 part-time staff. The office staff consists of a Chief Deputy, 17
Patrol Deputies, 3 Investigators, 35 Communication/Corrections Officers,
and 5 Data Entry Technicians. The Sheriff also acts as the Emergency Management
Director for the county.
Services
Provided:
DARE (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education)
Civil Process
CAPP (Child Abduction Prevention Program)
VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday)
Special
Teams:
Honor Guard
Dive Rescue and Recovery
SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics)
CERT (Corrections Emergency Response Team)
K-9 Unit
Water Patrol
Snowmobile Patrol
Posse
WCMDTF (West Central Minnesota Drug Task Force)
VINE
(Victim Information Notification Everyday)
What is VINE?
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a service through
which victims of crime can use the telephone or Internet to search for
information regarding their offender's custody status and register to
receive telephone and e-mail notification when their offender's custody
status changes.
Telephone Registration
You can use the telephone to search for and register to receive notification
about the custody status of an offender - each state/county has his or
her own toll-free VINE phone number.
Web Registration
You can search for and register to receive notification about the custody
status of an offender via VINELink at www.vinelink.com.
Where is VINE available?
VINE is currently available in 42 states. If the inmate for whom you’re
searching is in custody
at a corrections facility that participates in VINE, you should be able
to locate custody
information.
VINELink is not
a paid service. It is completely FREE.
VINELink
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search for an offender
and register to receive notification using VINELink?
Please note that you may register to receive notification for custody
status changes only for offenders currently in custody.
To use VINELink to search for an
offender in custody, please follow these steps:
1. Go to www.vinelink.com
2. Click on the state in which the offender is housed.
3. Choose the Search tab across the top of the navigation page.
4. Select Offender in the Search for screen, type the full Last Name of
the person for whom you are searching, as well as at least the first initial
of the First Name, then click Search.
5. Verify the information for the offender that matches the person for
whom you search.
To use VINELink to register to receive
notification about changes in an offender’s custody status, please
follow these steps:
1. Complete steps 1 through 5 above.
2. Click Details next to the appropriate offender.
3. On the Register for Notification screen, choose your Method of Registration
and Language, then click Continue.
4. Complete the required information for registration.
5. Click Register.
D.A.R.E
– Drug Abuse Resistance Education
The Douglas County D.A.R.E. program began in 1989. Since
that time, approximately 4,000 fifth and sixth grade students
have been taught the curriculum. D.A.R.E. is a cooperative
effort between the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and
the following schools: West Central Area-South (Kensington),
Evansville, Brandon, Garfield, Carlos, Miltona, Osakis, and
St. Agnes (Osakis). It is also imperative that parents speak
to their children about this important topic.
D.A.R.E. is a twelve-week program taught locally each year
during the months of January, February, and March. It teaches
the specifics of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, including
the health risks of each to the human body, as well as the
consequences of use/abuse. The other “popular”
drugs are also discussed: methamphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy.
The students are provided a workbook that includes the DARE
Decision Making Model, a four-step process that can be used
to make a healthy decision when faced with the question of
whether or not to use drugs. It could also be used to make
other important decisions in one’s life. |
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LESSONS:
Friendships: the importance of friends when faced with questions
regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. However,
it has been determined that parents are the number one factor
in determining whether or not a student will use alcohol, tobacco,
or other drugs.
Peer Pressure: it’s effects, both positive and negative.
Warning Labels: what they are and why they are used.
Advertising: how it is used to attract a specific age group
or gender. Confidence and Self-Esteem: the advantage of having
it and using it.
ROLE MODELS:
It has been determined that Role Models, high school age students,
are very effective in getting the D.A.R.E. message across to
grade school students. One of the last lessons of the program
is bringing these Role Models into the grade school classroom
to speak with the students about the realities of what they
will face in the near future, as it relates to the use of alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs. The Role Models impress upon the grade
school students that they will be asked to try those drugs,
and by preparing for those types of questions now, they will
know how to respond. The Role Models also relay that by having
healthy, positive relationships with family and friends, and
by being involved in school and community activities, the ability
to say “no” is much easier. |
D.A.R.E. ESSAY:
It is a one to two page paper written by each student about
what they have learned in D.A.R.E. class and the effect that
it has had on their life. They are also asked to make a pledge
to remain drug and violence free. The students then read their
essay to their classmates, and one essay from each class is
read at the D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony.
GRADUATION:
D.A.R.E. graduations are held during the last two weeks of March.
Each class has its’ own ceremony in which graduation certificates
are conferred on each student, as well as other rewards. The
students, their parents, and others are then treated to cake
and juice. The graduation ceremonies are well attended by Sheriff’s
Office staff, school staff and board members, county commissioner’s
and city council members. The general public is welcomed to
attend.
Each D.A.R.E. student receives a workbook, pencil, D.A.R.E.
stickers, and a D.A.R.E. T-shirt.
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Is D.A.R.E. effective?
National studies show that among D.A.R.E. graduates, 93%
have never tried drugs, 70% have never tried alcohol and 75%
have never tried smoking. What would happen if we didn’t
teach it? Be a good role model. Talk to your kids about the
hazards of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and most importantly,
listen to them. You are an important part of their lives!
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The following Sheriff’s Deputies
have taught the D.A.R.E. lessons:
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| Gabe Pipo |
1989-1992 |
retired in 2000 |
| Brad Lake |
1992-2000 |
promoted to
Chief Deputy – 2007 |
| Jackie Notch |
1995-present |
promoted to Jail Administrator-2007 |
| Rick Schley |
1997-1999 |
currently an Investigator |
| Ron Boyden |
2004-present |
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| Honor
Guard
The Honor
Guard was officially adopted as a formal special unit within
the Sheriff Office in January of 2006.
The Douglas County Sheriff Honor Guard’s primary mission
is to pay tribute and remember the Peace Officers that have
given the ultimate sacrifice while selflessly executing a
sworn duty to protect the citizens of our community.
Our motto “Honoris Causa” means:
“For the Sake of Honor”
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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Honor Guard is comprised
of six dedicated deputies that have volunteered their time
to demonstrate the true meaning of Honor. Our definition of
Honor includes pride, integrity, professionalism, and courage.
We are a ceremonial unit, which provides military style honors
for our fallen comrades and their families. This includes
Posting/Presentation of Colors, Casket Detail, Casket/Door
Guards, Rifle Detail, and Flag Fold Detail.
We also represent the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
during the presentation of Colors at Law Enforcement functions
and other community events.
The Honor Guard unit is a self-sufficient entity of the Sheriff’s
Office. All money spent on uniforms, training and equipment
is raised solely by donations and fund raising events.
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For
more information or to make a donation, please contact:
Deputy Brandon Chaffins
Honor Guard Commander
216 7th Ave W
Alexandria, MN 56308
320-762-8151
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Correctional
Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Staff safety is a priority
for the Douglas County Jail. The rising number of inmates
and jail incidents, due to increasingly volatile inmates,
initiated the need for Douglas County to expand their training.
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Douglas County invited
members of the Washington County CERT to train our staff on
cell extractions in the fall of 2005. Then in August of 2006,
our training officers attended the Washington County CERT
training.
The Douglas County Sheriff
and Jail Administrator were able to see the lower incident
rate and the safety benefits and of these trainings. The Douglas
County CERT was created in the spring of 2007 and currently
has 16 members.
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The CERT trains monthly
so that in the event of a disturbance, fire or medical situation,
they are prepared to carry out their duties to provide for the
safety and security of the jail. Some of these skills include:
special equipment training, verbal skills and teamwork. |
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Water
Rescue and Recovery
The Douglas County Water
Rescue and Recovery Team provides an emergency response to
water related emergencies at any time and in all weather conditions.
Boating accidents, drowning victims and vehicles through the
ice account for most callouts, but the team is also trained
for thin ice, black water, surface rescue, and evidence recovery.
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Members of the team are
employees of the Sheriff’s Office who train monthly to
maintain their skills. In
addition to being certified divers, team members are also
trained in the use of county watercraft, search techniques,
and underwater communications.
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Safety is the number
one priority for this team so please remember:
Boats not involved with the diving operation must remain at
least 150 feet away from a divers flag.
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Special
Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)
The Douglas County SWAT
Team consists of deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s
Office and officers from the Alexandria Police Department.
The team responds to
high risk calls including barricaded suspects, high risk warrants
and calls which have a high risk of injury or death to an
officer, suspect or civilian. |
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The team has divisions,
which include entry teams, snipers, negotiators, and medical
support. Currently there are two doctors and a paramedic who
assist the team as members. The team trains regularly, which
consists of weapons training, physical training, team movement
and chemical agents. All training is separate from the members
regularly duty activities. |
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Team also assists neighboring agencies when requested. The team
takes great pride in the fact that since the team formation
in 1987, no deputy, officer, or innocent civilian has been seriously
injured or killed as a result of a situation in which the team
has been activated. |
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West
Central Minnesota Drug Task Force (WCMDTF)
Consisting of eight
counties and nine cities within those counties, the West Central
Minnesota Drug Task Force is staffed by full-time officers
from agencies within the task force area. The agents are dispersed
throughout the eight counties and work with local, state and
federal agencies to stem the manufacture, distribution and
use of illegal narcotics. |
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The task force agents
work with local schools, local businesses and other community
groups to educate students and citizens about narcotics. Use
of Power Point presentations and samples of seized narcotics
help demonstrate the dangers of drugs and educate citizens.
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| Agents assist local agencies
within the task force area when major cases arise. Agents have
special training in the writing and execution of search warrants
and assist in both narcotics and other investigations. |
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