Minnesota State Patrol

The Minnesota State Patrol is the primary highway patrol agency for Minnesota and serves as the de facto state police for the state. While Minnesota State Patrol troopers have full powers of arrest throughout the state, their primary function is traffic and vehicle law enforcement. The State Patrol is a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.[6]

Minnesota State Patrol
Official Patch of the Minnesota State Patrol
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Logo
AbbreviationMSP
Agency overview
Formed1929 (1929)
Preceding agency
  • Minnesota Highway Patrol (1929–1973)
Employees886 (as of 2017)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionState of Minnesota, United States
Minnesota State Patrol Districts
Size87,014 square miles (225,370 km2)
Population5,628,162 (2018 est.)[2]
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersSt. Paul, Minnesota
Troopers591 (as of 2017)[3]
Civilian employees295 (as of 2017)[4]
Agency executive
  • Colonel Matthew C Langer[5]
Parent agencyMinnesota Department of Public Safety
Patrol Districts11
Facilities
Stations61
Website
Minnesota State Patrol

History

The Minnesota Highway Patrol was created in 1929 when Charles M. Babcock, the Commissioner of Highways, appointed Earl Brown, Sheriff of Hennepin County, as Chief of the Highway Patrol. On July 1, 1929, Chief Brown appointed 8 officers. In 1973 the Highway Patrol was reorganized and the official name was changed to the Minnesota State Patrol.[7]

A Minnesota State Patrol Trooper makes a traffic stop. Cruiser has older markings used from 1991–2007

The first training school was held January 18 to April 1, 1930. This school graduated the first 35 members of the Minnesota Highway Patrol. [8]

The patch

The patch worn by members of the Minnesota State Patrol evolved from "The Great Seal" which is placed on all official state documents.

Notable incidents

According to Bellingcat the Minnesota State Patrol was among the police departments which deliberately targeted journalists during the George Floyd protests.[9] In late May 2020, the Minnesota State Patrol was involved in policing the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The State Patrol slashed tires of at least several dozen unoccupied vehicles parked near protests, admitting their involvement around a week later. Several journalists' cars, including from the Star Tribune, had their tires slashed. The Patrol said that the tactic was not a usual one, but they implemented it to prevent vehicles from being used as weapons.[10][11]

Duties

[12] While the State Patrol concentrates primarily on traffic enforcement and highway safety it also has a statewide law enforcement role. Troopers are also involved with accident reconstruction and commercial vehicle enforcement. The State Patrol capitol security division also handles the security for the Minnesota State Capitol complex and the Governor. Additionally, the State Patrol maintains a K-9 unit that focuses on drug enforcement interdiction, as well as a Special Response Team (SRT), that operates like a traditional SWAT Team.[13] Troopers are issued the Glock 17 Gen 5 9mm Luger sidearm and have Safariland 6360 Level 3 holsters.

Organization

The State Patrol is headquartered in St. Paul. There are 11 Patrol Districts throughout the state, with 61 Patrol Stations. The current State Patrol Chief is Colonel Matthew Langer.[14] Each district office is led by a Captain and is staffed with troopers and investigators, along with communication and support staff to assist in the patrol's missions.[15] The Headquarters and State Patrol Command Staff are within District 2000, along with the Flight Section, Investigative Services Section, and Training & Development.

Patrol Districts
Patrol District District Office Station Offices Counties (or area) served
District 2000Headquarters - St. PaulAll (statewide):
  • State Patrol Headquarters
  • Flight Section
  • Investigative Services
  • Training and Development
District 2100RochesterAlbert Lea, Owatonna, Red Wing, Rushford, Wabasha, WinonaDodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona
District 2200MankatoFairmont, Hutchinson, New UlmBlue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan
District 2300MarshallMarshall, Montevideo, Redwood Falls, Pipestone, Windom, WorthingtonChippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, and Yellow Medicine
District 2400Oakdale (East Metro)Forest Lake, Lakeland, Richfield, South St. Paul, St. Paul.Anoka (part), Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin (part), Ramsey (part), Scott (part), and Washington
District 2500Golden Valley (West Metro)Cambridge, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Mounds View.Anoka (part), Carver, Hennepin (part), Isanti, Ramsey (part), and Scott (part)
District 2600St. CloudBuffalo, Elk River, Morris, Sauk Centre, St. Cloud, WilmarBenton, Big Stone, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd (part), Traverse, and Wright
District 2700DuluthDuluth, Grand Marais, Hinckley, Scanlon, Two HarborsCarlton, Cook, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis (part)
District 2800BrainerdAitkin, Brainerd, Little Falls, Mora, WalkerAitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard (part), Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Morrison
District 2900Detroit LakesAlexandria, Fergus Falls, Mahnomen, Moorhead, WadenaBecker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Todd (part), Wadena, and Wilkin
District 3100VirginiaGrand Rapids, Hibbing, International FallsItasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis (part)
District 3200Thief River FallsBagley, Bemidji, Crookston, Hallock, RoseauBeltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard (part), Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau
District 4600Capitol Security & Executive ProtectionSt. PaulMinnesota State Capitol complex & grounds, Minnesota Governor's Residence, Protection of the Governor of Minnesota and other state executives and officials as needed
District 4700Commercial Vehicle EnforcementMendota HeightsAll (statewide), enforce laws pertaining to motor carriers and Commercial vehicles by performing Commercial Vehicle Inspections and operating statewide scales

State Patrol Chief

Since 1929, the State Patrol has been commanded by the State Patrol Chief, who has the rank of Colonel. The Colonel reports directly to the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety, who is appointed by the Governor and serves in the Governor's Cabinet. In 1997, Anne L. Beers was appointed Chief of the State Patrol, as the first woman to hold the rank of Commander of a State Police Agency in U.S.[16] The following is a list of those that have held the title of State Patrol Chief:

Name Year(s)
Earle Brown1929–1933
John Arnoldy1933–1938
Martin Murray1938–1939
Eldon Row1939–1945
Earl E. Larimer1945–1954
Paul R. Martz1954–1960
Leo M. Smith1960–1966
John S. Harbinson1966–1973
James C. Crawford1973–1979
D. Roger Ledding1979–1989
Kevin L. Kittridge1989–1991
Anthony Kozojed1991–1993
Mike P. Chabries1993–1997
Anne L. Beers1997–2005
Steve Mengelkoch2005
Mark Dunaski2005–2011
Kevin Daly2011–2015
Matt Langer2015–present

Rank Structure
Rank Insignia
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Trooper

Note: Each state patrol district station has 1 sergeant who oversees all station operations. The official field supervisors throughout the district are lieutenants.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Minnesota State Patrol, eight officers have died while on duty.[17]

Rank Name Date of Death Cause of Death Age Location
TrooperWilliam S. Kozlak04-25-1934Killed in a motorcycle crash32On Minnesota Highway 52 near Osseo, Minnesota
TrooperRoy C. Lichtenheld10-03-1934Killed in a motorcycle crash30On Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota
TrooperRay X.F. Krueger11-20-1959Killed in a head-on car crash47On Minnesota Highway 210 near Brainerd, Minnesota
TrooperGlen A. Skalman12-27-1964Succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on 12-17-1964 during a traffic stop29On I-35 near Forest Lake, Minnesota
TrooperDonald Bert Ziesmer10-15-1973Shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car on a traffic stop46On Minnesota Highway 61 along the north shore of Lake Superior
TrooperRoger Curtis Williams02-22-1978Struck and killed by an out-of-control vehicle while helping a motorist change a flat tire53On I-94 near Brandon, Minnesota
CorporalTimothy Joseph Bowe06-07-1997Shot and killed as he and 3 county deputies approached a house where a shooting was reported3610 miles east of Cambridge, Minnesota in Chisago County
CorporalTheodore Joseph "Ted" Foss08-31-2000Struck and killed by a tractor trailer while on a traffic stop35On I-90 near Lewiston, Minnesota[18]

See also

References
  2. http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/minnesota-population/
  5. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ooc/news-releases/Pages/Commissioner-Dohman-Appoints-Kelly-Director-of-Hokend-Security-and-Emergency-Management,-Langer-Chief-of-the-Minnesota-Stat.aspx
  6. "About". Minnesota State Patrol. Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  8. The Minnesota State Patrol Trooper's Association site
  9. Waters, Nick. "US Law Enforcement Are Deliberately Targeting Journalists During George Floyd Protests". www.bellingcat.com. Bellingcat. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  10. Kasprak, Alex (June 8, 2020). "Did Police Slash Tires at Minneapolis Protests?". Snopes. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  11. Walsh, Paul (June 8, 2020). "Officers slashed tires on vehicles parked amid Minneapolis protests, unrest". The Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  12. "2011-Present". MaroonCruisers.com. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  13. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/msp/Pages/default.aspx
  14. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/msp/about/Pages/Chiefs.aspx
  15. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/msp/contact/Pages/district-index.aspx
  16. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/msp/about/Pages/History-Timeline.aspx
  17. The Officer Down Memorial Page
  18. https://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/after-years-trooper-s-death-is-a-reminder/article_13b7cc76-7bdf-5dfe-ae09-6a9a9f2b2d1d.html
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