Rice County Sheriff's Office

08/25/2026

Please join us in congratulating Deputy Dylan West for completing the leadership development course as prescribed by the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association.

West, who began his law enforcement career in another Minnesota county, joined Rice County in early 2025.

The program (183 POST hours) includes lessons on a wide range of leadership principles and theories, and their application, but the focus is on competency and mastery of what is taught.

08/24/2026

Through Sept. 7: To promote safer choices and protect our communities, our office and nearly 300 other agencies across Minnesota are participating in a statewide extra enforcement and education campaign focused on eliminating impaired driving.

What to expect on the road
• Increased patrols: Expect higher law enforcement visibility on state highways and local roads through Labor Day weekend.
• Strict enforcement: Officers will be actively looking for signs of impairment. If you do not drive sober, you will be pulled over.

On Minnesota roads through July 2026 there have been
• 62 alcohol-related traffic fatalities
• 179 alcohol-related serious injuries
• 13,670 DWI arrests

Don't become a statistic. Designate a sober driver, use a rideshare service or plan to stay overnight. MN Toward Zero Deaths Faribault Police Department Northfield Police Department, MN Lonsdale Police Department

08/19/2026

Congratulations to the Faribault Police Department/Faribault Fire Department, which took its first First Responders for Charity Softball Tournament title, first beating our Rice County team, then the team from Minnesota Correctional Facility-Faribault. The event, a fundraiser for HOPE Center, brought in more than $1,500, bring the total raised over four years to $12,000. Also playing was the team from Northfield Police Department, MN/Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service.

08/16/2026

TOMORROW: Benefit for Brynlee Bemis.
2-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 at the Moose Lodge 2098 Faribault , 1810 4th St NW.

This March, then 3-month-old Brynlee, daughter of Rice County staff members, Nick and Sarah Bemis, was admitted to Children's Minnesota and diagnosed with NTRK1 fusion high-grade glioma.

Brynlee is currently receiving treatment along with regular physical, occupational and speech therapy at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, a leader in treating this rare cancer.

Join us tomorrow for a day of giving and fun! All proceeds directly support Brynlee Bemis.

Free will donations accepted. Food & drinks available. Auction items include guns, meat, fishing/spearing gear, woodworking equipment and tickets to sporting events.

08/14/2026

UPDATE 6:07 P.M.: Service to the non-emergency dispatch phone number has been restored.

NON-EMERGENCY PHONE SERVICE DISRUPTION: Residents can expect a brief, one-hour disruption to Rice County's non-emergency dispatch number (507-334-4305) from 5-6 p.m. today (Aug. 14).

If you need to reach our office or speak to a deputy during that time, dial 911.

08/13/2026

JOIN OUR TEAM!
Consolidated Correction Foodservice is hiring a part-time cook to work in the Rice County Jail.

Must be able to follow recipes, have cooking skills and be able to pass a drug test and background check. Learn more and apply at www.consolidatedmgmt.com/careers.

08/12/2026

With midsummer corn reaching full height, navigating country roads can require extra caution. Tall corn significantly obstructs visibility at intersections, creating blind spots that can lead to devastating crashes

With midsummer corn reaching full height, navigating country roads can require extra caution. Tall corn significantly obstructs visibility at intersections, creating blind spots that can lead to devastating crashes. Never rely on indirect indicators that another vehicle may be approaching, like dust during the day or headlights at night: Dust clouds during the day can be misleading, and headlight beams don't always cut through thick corn at night. And never count on another driver seeing you or stopping.

Quick tips:
• Treat every blind corner as a stop: Even at uncontrolled intersections with no signs, come to a complete stop before pulling out.
• Double-check, don't assume: Stop even if the side road has a stop sign – the other driver's view of the sign (or your vehicle) might be obstructed.
• Never guess: Stop and scan both directions, even if you think the road is empty.

Whether you're walking, biking, riding a motorcycle or ATV, in your car, or driving farm equipment, always stop at the corners. Together, we can drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.