On Friday, April 17, 2026, multiple tornadoes ripped through Olmsted County, damaging or destroying multiple homes along their paths. Marion Road Christian Church, its elders and members, answered the call and established a resource and donations center at their church. Along with guidance from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota, and other voluntary organizations, a Tornado Relief and Recovery Team was established.
Residents encouraged to submit storm damage reports
News
Apr 22, 2026
Nearly one week after tornadoes struck Olmsted County on April 17, 2026, local agencies continue assessing damage and supporting residents affected by the severe weather.
On February 16, 2026, at approximately 10:05 p.m., and for approximately 20 minutes thereafter, the Rochester/Olmsted County Emergency Communications Center (ECC - dispatch) began receiving calls of several Outdoor Warning Sirens sounding in northeast and southeast Rochester and as far east as Chester Woods Park.
After considerable conversation and careful reflection, I have decided that I will not seek a fourth term as the Olmsted County Sheriff in the fall of 2026.
On December 12, 2025 at approximately 5 a.m., dispatch received calls of a person shot in the parking lot of Stewartville High School located at 440 6th Avenue Southwest in Stewartville, Minn.
Extra DWI enforcement on Olmsted County roads Nov. 26 through New Year ‘s Eve
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is joining with hundreds of law enforcement agencies statewide to provide extra DWI enforcement this holiday season.
The DMT is used as one step in a process to determine whether an individual is under the influence of alcohol or over the legal limit to drive in the state of Minnesota. The DMT is provided by the State of Minnesota through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
I cannot stop what is already in motion, and I, we as the public, must trust the parole board’s decision and must hope Mr. Brom is ready for this transition in his life.
The new design represents the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and the county we serve
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) recently completed a redesign of its uniform patch which features several meaningful elements tied to Olmsted County and OCSO’s history.
Southern Minnesota border-to-border effort on July 3 art of statewide enforcement campaign
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is joining law enforcement statewide in an extra speed enforcement and awareness campaign running through Sept. 2. This coincides with the “100 deadliest days” on Minnesota roadways, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
On March 9, 2025, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a person who witnessed a small plane crash in the area near the 2700 block of County Road 16 Southwest in High Forest Township.
On March 9, 2025, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a person who witnessed a small plane crash in the area near the 2700 block of County Road 16 Southwest in High Forest Township.
Without encryption, anyone can listen to law enforcement radio communications using scanners and apps. Radio communications often include sensitive and confidential medical information and details about victims and juveniles. Occasionally, listeners have shared this information publicly.
Deputies arrived and observed a vehicle with significant fire damage and appeared to have been in this area for some time. Deputies also observed a deceased person in the driver's seat.
On December 17, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m., the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office was called to Byron High School to assist with suspicious substances found in a juvenile student’s locker. The Sheriff's Office consulted with the Minnesota Duty Officer, Byron Fire Department, and Bloomington Bomb Squad. It was determined that there were no safety concerns, and the suspicious substances could be safely removed. As a further precautionary measure, Olmsted County explosive detection K9s were requested to conduct a security sweep of the building.
Oxbow Park/ Zolman Zoo's holiday Zoodazzle event started in 2008 with park volunteers, park staff, and support from the Sentence to Serve (STS) program. The volunteers collected, maintained, coordinated, and provided part of the labor to decorate the entire zoo. The Friends of Oxbow (FOX) board assisted with the event by providing a silent auction, raffles, treats, and crafts. From the start, the STS program provided approximately 600 hours of labor per year, specific to the Zoodazzle event.
Severe weather, heavy rainfall, and flooding that occurred June 16 through July 4, 2024, prompted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for many counties throughout Minnesota. While not included in the original federal disaster declaration, last Friday, Olmsted County Emergency Management received delayed initial damage estimates which put Olmsted County above its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) damage indicator for its Public Assistance program (government property and utilities).
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a traffic safety grant in April 2024 by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to conduct highly visible traffic enforcement from a vehicle with a higher vantage point.
The Rochester Police Department (RPD) and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) are excited to celebrate Night to Unite, also known as National Night Out.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office will be joining law enforcement statewide who are participating in an extra speed enforcement and awareness campaign running now through Sept. 2.
On Saturday, June 22nd at approximately 7 a.m. Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash at Interstate 90, Eastbound near the Highway 42 Exit in Olmsted County. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Margot Lewis, a 32-year-old from North Liberty, Iowa. In checking to see if anyone else was in the vehicle, a deceased individual was located in the backseat. The conditions of the deceased were suspicious, and it was immediately apparent that the death was not a result of the motor vehicle crash.
The City of Rochester and Olmsted County Emergency Management Offices are excited to announce our new Emergency Notification System, CodeRed. There are two types of alerts for CodeRed:
On Friday, January 19, 2024, the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) arrested 43-year-old Shannon Brown of Stewartville, MN, for the charge of 3rd Degree Murder. This is after OCSO investigated a fatal overdose that occurred in October 2023.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office will be joining law enforcement statewide throughout July who are participating in an extra speed enforcement and awareness campaign.
The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) and Rochester Police Department (RPD) are excited to celebrate Night to Unite, also known as National Night Out.
It is with regret that the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office announces the death of K9 Ranger, Badge 2037.
On June 11th, 2023, Ranger, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, and his handler Corporal Heimer were training for an upcoming K9 Trial. At one point, Ranger did not seem himself and was transported to an animal hospital for a medical emergency. Unfortunately, Ranger succumbed to his illness.
Olmsted County residents, community leaders, business owners, area agencies and organizations now have an opportunity to share how severe weather events impact their property and lives. There is also an opportunity to share ideas on how to reduce local impacts in the future.
St. Patrick’s Day can be a fun time of celebration, but it’s important to keep it from becoming a deadly time on Minnesota roads. This means that if you plan to drink any alcoholic beverage, drive smart by planning a sober ride home and not getting behind the wheel. Extra DWI enforcement will be on Minnesota roads statewide.
The Rochester Polar Plunge presented by Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is excited to kick off the 2023 version of the Polar Plunge and Super Plunge on Friday, February 10th with the Super Plungers beginning their quest for 24 plunges in 24 hours at 2:00 pm. The mass plunging event and opening ceremonies begins at 11:30 am on Saturday, February 11th . All this crazy fun is happening at Foster Arend Park and beach in Rochester, Minnesota just north of 37th st NE and East River Road NE.
After working closely with the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office and submitting our case file for their review, a criminal complaint was filed this morning in Olmsted County District Court charging Timothy Daniel Loftus, a 41-year-old Rochester resident, with 3rd Degree Homicide and Interference with a Dead Body.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is proud to continue participating in the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program. The program, launched by the State's Commerce Department in 2021, works by adhering a special label to catalytic converters that transfer etchings of the label's unique number onto the metal once the vehicle is started. The etching makes it possible for law enforcement to trace a recovered convertor back to a specific vehicle if it's stolen.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is proud to continue our participation in the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program. T
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A Note from Sheriff Torgerson
First, let me thank you all who attended the many celebrations and events this summer. It was great to see you, talk with you, share stories, and make fun memories. But as the summer is nearing the end, schools are opening and final summer vacations come to a close.
Motorists who use the Highway 42 bridge over Interstate 90 south of Eyota will need to follow a detour to cross the bridge when the three-week repair effort begins on Aug. 29, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Construction work to close the Highway 14 medians at Olmsted County Road 44 and 7th Street NW is scheduled to begin west of Rochester on Monday, July 25, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Motorists west of Rochester will no longer be able to cross Hwy 14 at Olmsted Co. Rd. 44 and 7th St. NW by mid-August, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
On Friday June 17th at 5:51 P.M., Olmsted County Deputies were dispatched to a deceased person call in the area of CR 2 and 70th Ave NE in Haverhill Township.
Click It or Ticket Extra Seat Belt Patrols May 23-June 5
You’re in a hurry. You have to get the kids to school. You’re running late for a meeting. You don’t buckle up because you just have to go. That decision could prevent a person from ever getting to work or school again.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office offers our deepest condolences to the family and friends of John Colbert, who have lost their loved one in this tragedy.
On Sunday, May 8th at approximately 10:44 pm, Olmsted County Deputies were dispatched to a shooting in the 5000 block of County Road 105 in Kalmar Township.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce our participation in the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program. The program, which was launched by the state's Commerce Department in 2021, works by adhering a special label to catalytic converters, that transfers etchings of the label's unique number onto the metal once the vehicle is started. The etching makes it possible for law enforcement to trace a recovered convertor back to a specific vehicle if it's stolen.
Sentence to Serve work crews are available to assist non-profit organizations
Sentence to Service (STS) plays a key role in the functionality of our community’s fairs and neighborhood events. As the seasons change throughout the year, so do their roles.
Regionwide Speed Patrols Work to Slow Down Dangerous Driving Behavior
Olmsted County, Minn. – Law enforcement agencies across Southeast Minnesota will be partnering to prevent a tragic end to summer fun with an education and patrol campaign for motorists who are Dying to Get Home.
On July 28th, 2021, at approximately 9:30 PM, two Olmsted County Sheriff Deputies, assigned to foot patrol duties at the Olmsted County Fair, were approached by a fairgoer and informed of a disorderly, juvenile female in the Midway area of the fairgrounds. The deputies were informed that the disorderly female was allegedly kicking over garbage cans, using loud profane language, causing people to be in fear, alarmed, and offended by her behavior.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened to inform our communities that a Detention Deputy from the Adult Detention Center suddenly passed away while on duty at the Adult Detention Center.
On April 7, 2021, at approximately 4:11 pm, Olmsted County Deputies, Stewartville First Responders, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service were dispatched to a medical incident at the 700 block of Willow Green Court Northeast in Stewartville, Minn.
On March 31, 2021, at approximately 6:12 p.m., the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office became aware of a suspicious circumstances complaint that involved a young child walking home from school. The incident occurred near Byron Middle School located at 601 4th St. NW in the City of Byron around 3:00 p.m. on March 31, 2021.
We Want You. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is in search of licensed Peace Officers who are seeking employment in a growing county which greatly supports law enforcement. Applications are being accepted through February 2, 2021. Testing dates are February 10 and 11.
Olmsted County Deputy Tracey Pagel, who was named American Legion 1st District Law Enforcement Officer of the Year this past fall, received the honor for the entire State of Minnesota last night in Eyota!
As we begin the New Year, we want to thank all of you that have reached out with treats, cards, and kind words over the last year—it’s been a challenge for all of us, but we will persevere! Happy New Year!
On November 29, 2020, at approximately 5:46 p.m., Olmsted County deputies, Byron (MN) Fire/First Responders, Mayo Clinic Ambulance, and Mayo Clinic’s helicopter, Mayo One, responded to a residence in the 3200 block of Grand View Lane Southwest in Salem Township of Olmsted County.
