Search
Dakota County Emergency Management & Response
Dakota County works closely with federal, state and local emergency preparedness partners to improve our readiness and response to natural disasters and other emergencies.
- Dakota County continually evaluates hazards and seeks ways to keep preparedness at the highest level.
- Detailed response plans are prepared, tested, and modified on a yearly basis.
- Training exercises conducted throughout the year help maintain staff proficiency, provides practice opportunities on how to locate, communicate with and work with our partners, and improve our ability to respond to emergencies.
- Dakota County educates residents, businesses, schools and community organizations about possible emergencies and how to best prepare and plan for them.
- Our emergency responders are well-skilled and coordinated to provide quick and effective response.
Public Safety Exercises & Training
Every year, Dakota County conducts a public safety exercise to help train and support local emergency response teams with real life, practical demonstrations. The goal of the exercise is to provide realistic training scenarios for local law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies. Volunteers act as various role players that help heighten the realness of the training scenario.
You must pre-register online through Better Impact. Individuals will also be required to sign a separate participation agreement on the day of the event prior to being allowed into the venue. Please sign up ASAP as spots tend to fill quickly.
Dakota County Parks
Dakota Woods Dog Park
Help maintain your dog's mental and physicals health by getting them outside to roam. Dakota Woods Dog Park is a 16-acre, fenced-in, wooded park that is a great place to let your dog run and exercise on and off-leash. The park is centrally located in Dakota County, just east of Rosemount and north of Farmington.
Volunteer Trail Patrol
Enjoy the outdoors while assisting park visitors with questions, directions, and providing an extra support measure in case of emergencies. Our patrol units offer a vital service to our county parks by providing trained individual assistance to our park users, helping to keep everyone happy and safe on our park and regional trails. Volunteer while personally enjoying the trails yourself, so easy and fun!
Dakota County Sheriff's Office
Explorer's Program
The Dakota County Sheriff's Explorer Program, run by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office in partnership with Learning For Life, is a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing young adults (14 - 20 years of age) to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice careers. Explorers are trained by department advisors in law enforcement techniques, community policing, crime prevention and first aid. This program helps prepare participants for a career in law enforcement and beyond.
Internship Opportunities
The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office enhances the training and education of students pursuing careers in law enforcement, corrections and criminal justice, so students gain practical experience. Interns have the opportunity to shadow deputies within various divisions in effort to provide them with a holistic view of the many opportunities available at the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.
