Winona County Police Blotter Lookup
The Winona County Sheriff's Office handles police blotter records across 625 square miles of southeastern Minnesota, covering arrests, incident reports, waterway patrol data, and jail records that are available to the public under state data practices law. If you need to find recent law enforcement activity, request a report, or check on someone's custody status, this page explains what records exist and how to get them from the Sheriff's Office in Winona.
Winona County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office is located at 201 W Third Street, Winona, MN 55987. The main phone number is (507) 457-6368. Fax is (507) 457-6495. The lobby is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Sheriff Ron Ganrude leads the office, with Chief Deputy Jeff Mueller as second in command, also reachable at (507) 457-6368. The office employs 76 staff members and works with 56 volunteers, covering a county that includes bluffs, farmland, and the Mississippi River along the southeastern edge of the state.
The Sheriff's responsibilities are broad. Law enforcement across all 625 square miles of the county falls under the Sheriff's jurisdiction. The office also runs the county jail and communications center. It handles waterway patrol on the Mississippi River. Emergency Management is another core function, as is search and rescue for incidents across the county's varied terrain.
Requesting Police Blotter Records
To get a copy of a report or other police blotter records from Winona County, call (507) 457-6368 during lobby hours. The Sheriff's Office does not have an online records submission portal. Requests are handled by staff during the Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM lobby hours. Staff can confirm what records are available and explain any fees for copies.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, the Sheriff's Office must make certain categories of law enforcement data public. This includes the names of people arrested, the charges filed against them, the date and time of arrest, and the general location of incidents. This data is public from the time of the arrest, regardless of what happens in court later. You don't need to show a reason for wanting the records. Public data is available to anyone who requests it.
The broader framework for data requests is set by Minn. Stat. § 13.03, which requires agencies to respond promptly and to provide a specific reason if they deny any part of a request. If the agency says data is private or confidential, it must tell you which law authorizes that classification.
Report a Crime Online
Winona County offers an online option for reporting certain types of incidents. The Winona County Report a Crime page lets you submit a concern or issue, pass along a crime tip, or report suspected child abuse. This is useful for non-emergency situations where you want to alert law enforcement without calling. Online tips submitted through this system go to the appropriate agency for follow-up.
For emergencies, always call 911. The online reporting tool is not monitored in real time and is not appropriate for active incidents. For general questions about filing a formal report, call the main line at (507) 457-6368.
The Winona County Sheriff's Office website serves as the central resource for law enforcement information, online crime reporting, and contact details for records requests.
The Sheriff's page at co.winona.mn.us links to key divisions and services, including the jail, permits, and community resources.
Jail and Inmate Records
The Winona County Jail handles pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates from throughout the county. The jail line is (507) 457-6503. To check whether someone is currently in custody, you can use VINELink, which allows searches by name or offender ID and provides real-time custody status. VINELink also lets you sign up for notifications if an inmate is released, transferred, or has a court date change. This service is particularly useful for victims and family members tracking a case.
The Sheriff's Office handles all aspects of jail operations, from booking to release. If you have questions about an inmate's status, court dates, or release eligibility, start with the jail line at (507) 457-6503. For general records questions, use the main number at (507) 457-6368 during lobby hours.
Permits and Fingerprinting
Winona County handles permits to carry and permits to purchase through the Sheriff's Office. As of March 1, 2021, these permits are processed in person only. Mail applications are not accepted. Payment for permit to carry must be made in cash. Fingerprinting services are also available at the Sheriff's Office for civil applicants who need fingerprint records for background checks or other purposes. Contact the office at (507) 457-6368 to schedule or get fee information.
These permit and fingerprinting services are separate from records requests but are handled through the same office during the same lobby hours. If you plan to visit for both purposes, you can handle both in one trip during the Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM window.
What the Police Blotter Covers Under State Law
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, the public has a right to specific types of law enforcement data. The statute is detailed. Public data includes calls for service summaries (time, date, general location, type of call), arrest records (name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency), and information about weapons used in crimes when that data is compiled. Agencies must also release data about people cited for violations, not just those arrested.
Minnesota's § 13.82 guarantees that police blotter records remain public, even when other investigative details stay protected. This distinction is important to understand when making records requests.
The statute also limits what agencies can protect. They cannot hide arrest data behind an "ongoing investigation" claim if the investigation is related to a different matter than the arrest itself.
Waterway Patrol on the Mississippi River
The Winona County Sheriff's Office runs waterway patrol on the Mississippi River, which forms the eastern boundary of the county. Incidents on the river, including boating accidents, rescues, and arrests, fall under the Sheriff's jurisdiction. Police blotter records for waterway incidents are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in the same way as land-based incidents. If you need records from a river-related incident, contact the Sheriff's Office at (507) 457-6368 and specify that the incident involved the waterway.
Nearby Counties
Winona County is part of the Third Judicial District and neighbors several other southeast Minnesota counties. Each has its own sheriff's office handling blotter records under the same state law:
- Wabasha County - northwest, county seat in Wabasha
- Houston County - south, county seat in Caledonia
- Fillmore County - west, county seat in Preston
- Olmsted County - northwest, includes Rochester
For incidents that cross county lines, or for records involving multiple jurisdictions, contact the Sheriff's Office and they can direct you to the right agency.
Court Records in Winona County
The Third Judicial District handles criminal court cases for Winona County. Court records, including case filings, hearing dates, and verdicts, are separate from law enforcement blotter records. You can search Third District cases through the Minnesota court system's public case search at mncourts.gov. Court records become public when charges are filed, and they cover the full arc of a case from arraignment through sentencing. Police blotter records capture the arrest. Court records capture what comes after.