The Waseca County Horse Thief Detectives were organized in southern Minnesota in 1864, after a gang was caught stealing horses from an isolated rural farm.

Those thieves got away, but the new organization made sure history didn’t repeat itself.

Over the next 20 years, the Waseca County Horse Thief Detectives proved its worth and put an end to horse stealing in Waseca County. Members could rest assured that a posse would be hot on the trail of thugs and bandits before they left the county!

Today, the need for chasing horse thieves is obsolete, but tradition and respect for those brave pioneers of Waseca County has kept the organization alive and well.

The Waseca County Horse Thief Detectives have held an annual meeting every year since its inception in 1864. Each year, the annual meeting is held on July 4, in Waseca, Minnesota, beginning with a potluck dinner at noon.

Our Mission, Methods, and Results

The Waseca County Horse Thief Detectives have been supporting law enforcement since 1864!  In that tradition, we offer a scholarship for a high school student in the county interested in law enforcement.  We are a financial supporter of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA).  We participate in local parades and activities throughout the year.