Law Enforcement and related services are provided to the Chanhassen community through a combination of city and county provided services. The city employs full-time a Crime Prevention/Public Safety Education Specialist and a Community Service Officer. The city has entered into a contract with the Carver County Sheriff's Office to provide ten patrol deputies, two patrol corporals, a School Resource Officer, an Investigator, and a Lieutenant to supervise local operations.

The Sheriff's Office provides 24-hour law enforcement services throughout Carver County. Communities in Carver County are afforded the opportunity to contract with the Sheriff's Office for police services, or they may institute their own police department. Ten of eleven cities and two townships in Carver County currently contract with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services.

Patrol Services: The Sheriff's Office divides the county into three patrol districts. The City of Chanhassen is one district. Deputies assigned to the Chanhassen district work in the city just as city police officers would. They work overlapping shifts and are stationed out of city hall. They patrol and respond to calls exclusively in Chanhassen, unless providing temporary assistance to surrounding communities. In addition, at least one countywide roving patrol supervisor oversees each shift of deputies. Additional roving deputies are available as staffing allows, to assist the district deputies as needed.

The Chanhassen contract also provides a supervisor stationed out of city hall on a full time basis. The Sheriff's Contract Supervisor position provides a direct liaison officer in Chanhassen to help coordinate the delivery of services and provide the city a direct link to the Sheriff's Office.

The following specialties and divisions of the Carver County Sheriff's Department also provide service to Chanhassen:

Communications (Dispatch): The dispatch center provides 24-hour computer aided dispatching of law enforcement, fire, and medical services from the Sheriff's Office headquarters in Chaska.

School Resource Officers (SRO's): SRO's work as a law enforcement resource and liaison in the county's school districts. The deputies also instruct students on alcohol, drug, and violence prevention. This division conducts tobacco sales compliance checks at businesses where tobacco products are sold. The SRO's work bicycle and patrol shifts during the summer.

Investigations: Investigators are assigned to a specific district in the county, or they conduct investigations involving a particular criminal specialty. One investigator is assigned as the primary Chanhassen investigator. However, investigators assist one another countywide as needed. This division also conducts liquor sales compliance checks at businesses where alcohol products are sold.

Crime Scene Technicians: Trained deputies utilize special equipment to process crime scenes. This allows prompt, efficient collection of evidence at crime scenes. The Sheriff's Office also maintains a Crime Lab for evidence processing.

Recreational Services: The Recreation Services Division provides water patrol, county park patrol, snowmobile patrol, as well as gun and snowmobile safety education classes.

Southwest Metro Drug Task Force: The Sheriff's Office participates in this multi-agency group of narcotics investigators. This group investigates crimes involving the illegal sale and distribution of controlled substances.

K-9: The Sheriff's Office utilizes two patrol deputies who also serve as K-9 handlers. They are available for call-out 24-hours per day. The United States Police Canine Association certifies the handlers and dogs for patrol use and narcotics searches. The dogs live with the handlers and are treated as a member of the family when not on duty.

Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT): SERT is a group of officers trained for emergency response to high risk criminal incidents, or other large scale emergency incidents requiring coordination between agencies. The group is made up of deputies and supervisory officers from various divisions within the Sheriff's Office.

Reserve and Posse: The Reserve and Posse units assist with law enforcement efforts and participate or work at community events. Members are citizens with an interest in law enforcement and volunteer community service, but usually are not licensed law enforcement officers.

Law Enforcement Contacts

• 911 is not just for life threatening emergencies. It may be used whenever you are requesting a response from law enforcement, fire or medical personnel. 911 calls from cell phones are routed to MN State Patrol. Calling 911 from a pay phone is a free call.
• Sheriff's Office, administrative offices: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm, 952-361-1212
• Sheriff's Communications Center, 24 hour dispatch: 952-361-1231
• Sheriff's Recreational Enforcement/Education Services: 952-361-1212
• Chanhassen Crime Prevention/Public Safety Education: 952-227-1610
• Southwest Metro Drug Task Force: 952-361-6900
• Sheriff's Office Records Division: 952-361-1212
• Sheriff's Supervisor at Chanhassen City Hall: 952-227-1601
• Chanhassen Animal Control/Community Service Officer: 952-227-1607