Volunteer Information

Why volunteer? “I was working with a volunteer member at my full-time job and was interested because he had such a great experience and I wanted similar personal growth in my life.” - Kelly Sullivan
  • The Sheriff’s Office currently has about 100 volunteers. Their skills and dedicated service help connect the Sheriff’s Office to the community and their volunteer work saves the Sheriff’s Office thousands of dollars each year in personnel costs.
  • Special deputies volunteer their time to serve with the Water Patrol Unit, Mounted Patrol, Emergency Squad Unit or Mobile Amateur Radio Corps (MARC). Volunteers are highly-trained and carry out essential duties
  • Volunteers don’t have to enter the program with experience in law enforcement or emergency medicine. The Sheriff’s Office provides extensive training
  • Most volunteers give their time because they want to help their community
  • You must be at least 21-years-old and undergo a background investigation to serve as a special deputy. Information and applications are available online at www.hennepinsheriff.org.  Recruitment takes place in the fall, prior to that time, you may contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sgt. Jennifer Johnson at 612.596.9818 or Jennifer.e.johnson@co.hennepin.mn.us.

Kelly SullivanKelly Sullivan, volunteer E Squad for 10 yrs
Full time: Financial Advisor, Sullivan Financial Advisors
Most Memorable/Rewarding Experiences: 

  • Training volunteers for the E-squad and seeing them use the skills we taught them. One of our members went through CPR class and saved one of his own children.
  • I get to jump into Lake Minnetonka in January.
  • It’s fun to cut a car in half.
  • Provide growth opportunity, great skill sets in conflict resolution, public speaking and learning to take control of a situation