Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office

06/01/2026

Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office May 2026 calls for service have been posted. Check out the latest reports and calls for service posted on our website.

December 2020 Calls 2020 Annual Report January 2021 Calls February 2021 Calls March 2021 Calls April 2021 Calls May 2021 Calls June 2021 Calls July 2021 Calls August 2021 Calls September 2021 Calls October 2021 Calls November 2021 Calls December 2021 Calls 2021 Annual Report January 2022 Calls Febru...

05/29/2026

⚠️ SCAM ALERT ⚠️

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a new phone scam involving callers claiming to be from Verizon.

Victims are receiving phone calls from “Verizon” representatives stating that a new phone has recently been purchased on their account. The victim is then pressured to provide personal information, account details, passwords, or verification codes to “stop” the purchase.

If you receive one of these calls:
• Do NOT provide personal or banking information
• Do NOT share verification or security codes
• Hang up immediately
• Contact Verizon directly using the number listed on your bill or the official Verizon website/app

Scammers often use fear and urgency to trick people into giving away sensitive information. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts and verify the information independently.

Please share this post to help warn friends and family.

05/22/2026

🇺🇸 As we honor Memorial Day Weekend, the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office wishes our community a safe and reflective weekend.

We pause to remember and recognize the brave men and women who served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. Their courage and dedication will never be forgotten. 🇺🇸

Photo captured at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Iowa.

05/22/2026

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office enjoyed spending time with Mrs. Ramstad’s second grade class at South Winneshiek School on May 21, 2026. Students and deputies shared a pizza party while learning about the equipment and gear deputies wear each day on the job.

The highlight of the visit was welcoming K9 McCoy into the classroom, which the students thoroughly enjoyed!

This special opportunity was purchased by second grader Brinlee’s parents, Steve and Amanda Nesvik, during a South Winneshiek School fundraiser.

05/18/2026

Another edition of MEET THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, featuring brothers Deputy Cole Tweten and Jailer Fisher Tweten, both proudly serving our community in different roles at the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
**click on each photo to read about Cole and Fisher.

05/14/2026

The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and Winneshiek County Emergency Management & 911 Communications Center was proud to participate in this morning’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Iowa! 🥶❄️

Deputy Cole Tweten, Jailer Fisher Tweten and Dispatcher Corey Shuman braved the cold waters (which actually weren’t that cold) to support a great cause and help raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Iowa. Thank you to everyone who donated, cheered us on, and came out to support the event!

It was a beautiful day to plunge! Special Olympics Iowa is such an incredible organization and the athletes they support. We had a great time taking the plunge for a purpose! 💙

05/12/2026

After 46 years of dedicated service in law enforcement, Deputy Gregg Rude is officially retiring and hanging up his badge.

Deputy Rude began his career with the Decorah Police Department, serving as a dispatcher from 1978 to 1979. In 1981, he continued his law enforcement journey with the Iowa State Patrol, where he served until his retirement in 2015. Following that chapter, he joined the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, bringing with him decades of experience and a continued commitment to public service.

During his time with the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Rude specialized in court and prisoner security and transportation. More importantly, he became a valued member of the team known for his reliability, professionalism, and steady presence. He was a trusted colleague and true asset to both the office and the community. He’ll also be remembered for the way he greeted those around him with a “big, hairy woof” or a “hi-de-ho,” simple gestures that brought smiles and reflected the camaraderie he shared with his coworkers.

Deputy Rude’s years of service have left a lasting impact, and the stories, laughter, and dedication he brought to the job will not be forgotten.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Deputy Gregg Rude for his many years of service and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.

05/10/2026

Today, we would like to recognize and thank all the incredible mothers in our communities and within our law enforcement family.

To the moms who serve, thank you for your dedication, strength, and sacrifice both at work and at home. Your commitment to protecting others while caring for your families does not go unnoticed.

To the mothers who support those in law enforcement, thank you for the long shifts, missed holidays, late-night calls, and unwavering encouragement you provide every day.

And to all mothers in our community — thank you for the love, guidance, and care you give to those around you.

From all of us at the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office, we wish you a safe, happy, and well-deserved Mother’s Day.

05/07/2026

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office and Winneshiek County Emergency Management & 911 Communications Center is proud to announce that Sean Snyder, Winneshiek County Emergency Management Coordinator, has been named by the Iowa Emergency Management Association as the Emergency Manager of the Year.

This award was created to recognize the accomplishments of an Emergency Management Professional and leader whose actions have made the greatest impact in advancing the Emergency Management Profession in Iowa during the previous calendar year. The individual’s selfless devotion to emergency management made lasting improvements to preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities both within their community and across Iowa. Their leadership positively influenced the integration of emergency management with other disciplines and across all levels of government. The endeavors of this individual will have a long-lasting positive impact on emergency management for years to come.

Snyder was nominated for this award by Mandy Bieber, Delaware County Emergency Management Coordinator, who noted:

“In the past year, Sean has dealt with flooding in his community. He handled a unique situation where the Iowa Individual Assistance (IA) / Disaster Case Advocacy (DCA) program was not established. Sean has been navigating this system with grace and poise, while at the same time advocating for both his citizens and the rest of the emergency management community who will have to use this program in the future. In addition, Sean has served for the last few years on the leadership team for the Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA). This is a time-consuming extra duty that is all voluntary. He has done an extraordinary job of navigating situations that have not faced any other IEMA leader due to the political climate at both the state and federal levels. He has continued his own personal growth in achieving his Emergency Number Professional (ENP) credential. This credential is a very difficult test, along with proving training and proficiency in the 911 realm, which is part of Sean’s duties as the Winneshiek County Emergency Management Coordinator. I viewed Sean’s interaction with his community at a debriefing and witnessed firsthand the respect for him at the local level from his emergency responders. For these reasons, Sean should be the 2026 Emergency Management Coordinator of the Year.”

Under Snyder’s direction, Winneshiek County Emergency Management has made significant strides in the continued development and evolution of emergency management services in Winneshiek County. Snyder’s innovation and resourceful planning have helped to grow an emergency management program optimized to serve all Winneshiek County residents.

Coordinator Snyder noted “I am honored to be recognized for such a distinguished award, and it has been a privilege to serve the residents of Winneshiek County. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support and direction of the Winneshiek County Emergency Management Commission.”

Snyder began his career with Winneshiek County Emergency Management Agency in 2015.

About Winneshiek County Emergency Management:

The Winneshiek County Emergency Management Commission is comprised of each Mayor of a Winneshiek County municipal jurisdiction, one member of the Board of Supervisors, and the Sheriff.

The Commission oversees the Emergency Management Agency, which is tasked with the duty of assisting citizens and their communities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and eliminate or reduce the effects of natural, man-made, civil, and technological emergencies or disasters. For more information, please visit https://winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/departments/emergency-management