Pipestone County Police Blotter
Pipestone County Police Blotter records are held by the Pipestone County Sheriff's Office in Pipestone, Minnesota, which serves this rural southwestern Minnesota county and maintains a data request process that allows residents to inspect or obtain copies of public records. The Sheriff's Office website includes a dedicated records request section and a fillable data request form, making it straightforward to start the process without needing to visit the office first.
Pipestone County Quick Facts
- County Seat: Pipestone
- Sheriff: Keith Vreeman
- Phone: 507-825-1100
- Fax: 507-825-6706
- Email: keith.vreeman@pipestonecounty.gov
- Address: 416 S. Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone, MN 56164
Pipestone County Sheriff's Office
The Pipestone County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Keith Vreeman and is located at 416 S. Hiawatha Avenue in Pipestone. The main phone is 507-825-1100, and the fax is 507-825-6706. Sheriff Vreeman can also be reached directly at keith.vreeman@pipestonecounty.gov. The office handles law enforcement for the county, including patrol, jail operations, and the maintenance of Police Blotter records that are available to the public under Minnesota data practices law.
The Pipestone County website at pipestone-county.com links to the Sheriff's Office section as well as information about county government, departments, and services. It is the main hub for official county information.
Pipestone County website is shown below.
The Pipestone County website provides access to the Sheriff's Office page and county government services.
How to Request Police Blotter Records
The Sheriff's Office maintains a records request page on the county website. A fillable PDF Data Request Form is available for download. This form covers both requests to inspect data and requests to receive copies. You must clearly describe the data you are looking for, but your name is not required if you are only asking for public data.
The request process follows Minn. Stat. § 13.82 for law enforcement data and Minn. Stat. § 13.03 for the broader government data practices framework. The right to inspect public data does not require you to state a reason. However, certain categories of data are classified as private or confidential under state law and will not be released. These commonly include active investigation data, juvenile records, and victim information in cases where the law protects those details.
When you fill out the form, be as specific as possible about what you need. The more detail you provide, the easier it is for staff to locate the right records. Requests that are broad or vague may take more time to process because staff need to identify what you are actually looking for before they can search or respond.
Pipestone County Records Request page is shown below.
The Pipestone County Sheriff's Office records request page explains how to access Police Blotter and other public law enforcement data.
Jail Information
The Pipestone County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office. Information about the jail, including visiting procedures and other details, is available on the jail information page on the county website. If you are trying to locate someone who may be in custody, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at 507-825-1100.
Other Services
The Pipestone County Sheriff's Office handles several services beyond patrol and records. Security checks are available for property owners who want periodic checks while away. Permits to Carry and Permits to Purchase are processed through the office. Fingerprinting is available for applications that require it. The office also manages the CodeRED emergency notification system, which sends alerts to residents about emergencies or important community announcements. Sheriff's auctions are held periodically when property is seized or goes unclaimed.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
For statewide criminal history records beyond what is in the Pipestone County Police Blotter, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains a central database of arrest and conviction records from agencies across the state. The BCA handles both personal history requests and third-party background checks. Their website has details on the process and applicable fees.
Minnesota Courts
Court records for Pipestone County are searchable through the Minnesota Courts website. Pipestone County is in the Fifth Judicial District. If an arrest noted in the Police Blotter led to charges, you can often search for the case online by name or case number. Some records are sealed, and court staff can guide you on what is accessible.
Minnesota Sheriffs Association
The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association is a statewide organization that supports county sheriffs across Minnesota. It is not a records resource, but it provides useful context about how sheriff offices operate and what standards and training they follow. The Pipestone County Sheriff's Office, like all county sheriffs in the state, is a member of this organization. If you have general questions about what a sheriff's office can or must do regarding public records, the association's resources may help clarify expectations.
Nearby Counties
Pipestone County is in southwestern Minnesota and shares borders with several other counties, each with its own Sheriff and records process.