Murray County Police Blotter Records

Murray County Police Blotter records are kept by the Murray County Sheriff's Office in Slayton, Minnesota, and cover incident reports, arrest data, and call logs from across this rural southwestern Minnesota county. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement agencies must make certain data available to the public, and the Sheriff's Office provides a clear path for residents and others to request those records through its data request process.

Murray County Sheriff's Office

The Murray County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the county and handles all public records requests tied to Police Blotter data. Sheriff Heath Landsman oversees a department that patrols rural roads, responds to calls for service, and maintains the incident and arrest records that make up the county's police blotter. The office is located at the Murray County Courts Building at 2558 29th Street in Slayton. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

The Sheriff's Office partners with Lyon County for jail and inmate housing. This means that people who are arrested in Murray County may be held at the Lyon County facility rather than locally. If you are looking for someone who was recently arrested in Murray County, contacting the Sheriff's Office directly at 507-836-6168 is the best first step.

The department publishes its policies online, including Use of Force, Body Cameras, and Bias-Based Policing. These are available on the Sheriff's Office website for anyone who wants to review them.

The Murray County website at murraycountymn.com is a good starting point for general county information and links to the Sheriff's Office section.

Murray County website homepage is shown below.

The Murray County website provides access to department pages including the Sheriff's Office.

Requesting Police Blotter Data

Murray County maintains a formal process for public data requests under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, which governs how government entities respond to requests for public records. The Sheriff's Office has a dedicated Requests for Data by Members of the Public page that explains how to submit your request. There is also a Public Access to Government Data page that explains what data is available and how the law applies.

You can submit your request in person at the office during business hours or by phone at 507-836-6168. When you request records, it helps to be as specific as possible. Include the date range, type of incident, and any other details that can help staff locate the right file. Response times vary depending on what is requested and whether any review for private or protected data is needed.

Murray County Sheriff's Office main page is shown below.

The Murray County Sheriff's Office page lists contact information and links to data request resources.

Other Services and Programs

The Sheriff's Office offers several services beyond standard patrol and records. Permits to Carry are available through the office. The fee is $75.00 for most applicants. Veterans who can show proof of certified training pay a reduced fee of $25.00. Free gun locks are also available for anyone who wants one.

Burn permits are another common request. If you plan to burn in Murray County, call 507-836-6168 before you start. This helps the Sheriff's Office track permitted burns and avoid unnecessary calls about smoke or fire in the area.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Statewide criminal history records are held by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which is a division of the Department of Public Safety. The BCA handles background checks and maintains a centralized database of arrest and conviction records from agencies across Minnesota, including Murray County. If you need a statewide criminal history record rather than a county-level incident report, the BCA is the right place to go.

The BCA operates under its own set of rules for data access and fees. Their website explains the process for both self-request and third-party background checks.

Minnesota Courts and Case Records

Court records tied to arrests or incidents in Murray County are handled through the state court system. The Minnesota Courts website provides access to case information, court schedules, and online tools for looking up case status. Murray County is part of the Fifth Judicial District. Case records on file with the court are separate from police blotter records held by the Sheriff's Office, though both can be relevant when researching an incident.

If an arrest in the Murray County Police Blotter led to charges, you can often track the case through the courts website. Some records require an in-person visit to the courthouse, and court staff can explain what is available and what has been sealed or restricted.

Legal Framework for Public Records

Two statutes govern most of the public data work at the Murray County Sheriff's Office. Minn. Stat. § 13.82 specifically covers law enforcement data and sets out what must be kept and what must be disclosed. This includes arrest data, incident data, and certain investigation data. Minn. Stat. § 13.03 covers the broader government data practices rules and outlines how agencies must respond to requests, including time limits and the right to inspect data at no charge.

Not all data in a police blotter is public. Some details are private under state law. These include victim information in certain cases, data about juveniles, and ongoing investigation records. When the Sheriff's Office responds to a request, staff will redact or withhold anything that falls into a protected category.

Nearby Counties

Murray County shares borders with several other Minnesota counties, each with their own sheriff and records process. You can find police blotter information for those areas at the links below.

• Lyon County
• Pipestone County
• Rock County
• Nobles County