Emmet County IA Sheriff’s Office

10/06/2026

The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office sincerely appreciates the Estherville Chamber of Commerce and the Emmet County Community Foundation for their generous support and grant funding to help purchase two thermal imaging drones for the Sheriff’s Office.

This funding is more than an investment in equipment; it is an investment in the safety of Emmet County's citizens and the first responders who serve them.

Drones have become an increasingly important and proven tool in modern law enforcement and emergency response. They give first responders an aerial perspective so they can deploy quickly and provide information that may be difficult or impossible to obtain from the ground. Public safety agencies now routinely use drones across the country for search and rescue, missing persons, emergency response, disaster operations, fires, traffic crashes, crime-scene documentation, and officer safety.

Adding thermal-imaging capability makes these drones particularly valuable. Thermal cameras can detect heat signatures in darkness and low-visibility areas, helping deputies locate people who might otherwise be extremely difficult to find. This capability can be especially important when searching large fields, wooded areas, waterways, or other difficult terrain.

One of the greatest benefits is improved responder safety. A drone can be sent into an area before officers or other emergency personnel enter, allowing them to identify hazards, locate individuals, and better understand a situation from a safe distance. During a critical incident, having accurate information from above can help incident command make better decisions and deploy personnel more effectively.

The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office intends to use this technology as a resource for the entire community. These drones can assist not only the sheriff’s office, but also other local emergency responders and public-safety partners when circumstances require an aerial response.

The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office is extremely grateful to the Estherville Chamber of Commerce and the Emmet County Community Foundation for recognizing the importance of this technology and investing in public safety.

Thank you for helping us bring modern, lifesaving technology to Emmet County. Your support will make a difference when seconds matter most.

09/24/2026

News Release

09/11/2026

**Update**
We have been able to speak with the owner. Thanks to everyone for the assistance.

Anyone recognize this male yellow lab? He was found running on the 300 block of East Maple Street in Ringsted. Please contact the sheriff’s office at 712-362-2639.

09/01/2026

**Update**
All admin lines are back working. Please call 712-362-2639 or 712-362-3515 for non emergent calls.

The Sheriff’s Office and Estherville Police admin lines are currently down. For non emergency calls, please call 712-392-3090.

911 is still functioning as it should.

08/25/2026

🚨 Horse Owners 🚨

**Update** 16:29
We have located the owner. Thank you to everyone for helping!

Updated picture 16:12

We have a light brown horse on the lose near 230th Street and 360th Avenue, SW Emmet County. Please check on your horses and let us know if the horse belongs to you.

Sorry for the poor zoomed in picture.

712-362-2639

08/07/2026

07/31/2026

**Update**
The dog has been reunited with its owner!

This black lab was found in Armstrong with no collar. Please call the Sheriff’s Office if this is your dog or you know who it belongs to.
712-362-2639.

07/31/2026

We would like to send out a huge thank you to Dave Wiley from Dave Wiley Trucking!! We were fortunate to get an armored Humvee from a federal grant program, 10-33 Military Surplus. Dave donated his time and equipment to go to Washington State to pick up the Humvee and deliver it to us.

As our budgets get tighter and tighter, engaging with grant programs are a must. Then, having Dave donate the transportation back to Iowa, is huge for our communities.

The Humvee is an added resource for our Multi-Agency Response Team. The MART team is comprised of members from the Emmet, Palo Alto, and Kossuth County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Algona, Emmetsburg, and West Bend Police Departments. So, this Humvee will assist in many situations across all three counties.