Koochiching County Sheriff's Office

04/15/2026

02/14/2026

Public Notice: Coordinated Ground and Air Search – February 16

The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with partner agencies, will be conducting a coordinated ground and air search in the Tilson Bay area on February 16th, 2026. Personnel will be searching for information on the whereabouts of Mark Rood. Mr. Rood is a 66-year-old male who was last seen in the International Falls area on January 19th and his vehicle had been in the Tilson Bay parking lot on January 21st.

Search Details

· Start Time: 8:00 AM

· Primary Area: County Road 136 and Highway 11 East

· Extended Area: Tilson Bay Landing ski trails and Bog Walk area

What Residents Can Expect

Residents in the search area may see:

· Ground search teams and aerial resources in operation

· Search personnel approaching private homes

· Requests for permission to check outbuildings, sheds, and surrounding property

All search personnel will be working under the coordination of the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office and will carry proper identification.

How You Can Help

Residents are encouraged to:

· Be aware of increased activity in the area

· Cooperate with search teams when possible

· Report any relevant information or sightings to local law enforcement

If you have information that may assist in locating Mr. Rood, please contact the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office at 218-283-4416.

We appreciate the community’s cooperation and support as efforts continue to locate Mr. Rood.

02/11/2026

The Koochiching County Sheriff's Office has received several calls today from citizens stating they were contacted by a Deputy Smith or Deputy Campbell who directed them to get cash from the bank and meet them somewhere. Or that they didn’t report for jury duty. This is a scam! The Sheriff’s Office would never call someone and request you go to the bank and bring us money. Please do not fall for this scam.

02/09/2026

Sheriff Hedlund was honored to present a 2025 Minnesota Sheriff’s Association scholarship award to Braden Skifstad. Braden will be graduating from Bemidji State University this spring and will be attending Alexandria Technical College’s law enforcement skills program this summer. Braden plans to continue in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in law enforcement.

02/02/2026

SEEKING INFORMATION: Investigators are seeking information from the public related to a child’s abduction. Joseph Andrew Bragg, 28, is charged with kidnapping and sexual assault. The child was ultimately found alive. If you hired Bragg for nanny or childcare services, please call our tipline at 651-793-2465.

The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. See their post at: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GJjrH2dwT/

12/23/2025

Deputy Nelson and CO Benedix had a great time at Super One last night ringing the bell for The Salvation Army. The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

12/09/2025

At approximately 0900 hours this morning a construction company just north of Fort Frances, Ontario conducted Blast in their quarry which resulted in what we believe the boom and tremors that were felt in the northern part of Koochiching County.
Emergency Management officials have been in contact with the company and will now receive updates from them and will notify our county residents prior to future blasts.

08/19/2025

🚨 We’re Hiring! 🚨

The Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office is looking for motivated individuals to join our team in the following positions:

E911 Operator / Corrections Officer

Sheriff’s Secretary

Female Transport Drivers

These roles are essential to keeping our community safe and our office running smoothly.

📌 If you’re dependable, detail-oriented, and looking for a rewarding way to serve your community, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 For more information or to apply, please visit [insert application link or instructions].

08/08/2025

🚓 National Night Out 2025 🚓

Our deputies had a great time visiting picnics and gatherings all across Koochiching County during National Night Out!

In the City of International Falls, our jail staff got creative and put together a kid-friendly jail cell where little ones could do fun “cell searches” for hidden goodies like candy and glow bracelets. 😄

It was a fun night full of community, connection, and a few laughs. Thank you to everyone who came out to support and spend time with us — we always enjoy the opportunity to engage with our neighbors in a positive and lighthearted way!