The Minnesota State Patrol is the primary state 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 safety and vehicle law enforcement. The State Patrol is a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.[6]
History
The Minnesota Highway Patrol was created in 1929 when Charles M. Babcock, the Commissioner of Highways, appointed Earle 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 to 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.[citation needed]
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 crash 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 sidearm.
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.
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 Brown
1929–1933
John Arnoldy
1933–1938
Martin Murray
1938–1939
Eldon Row
1939–1945
Earl E. Larimer
1945–1954
Paul R. Martz
1954–1960
Leo M. Smith
1960–1966
John S. Harbinson
1966–1973
James C. Crawford
1973–1979
D. Roger Ledding
1979–1989
Kevin L. Kittridge
1989–1991
Anthony Kozojed
1991–1993
Mike P. Chabries
1993–1997
Anne L. Beers
1997–2005
Steve Mengelkoch
2005
Mark Dunaski
2005–2011
Kevin Daly
2011–2015
Matt Langer
2015–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 troopers
Since the establishment of the Minnesota State Patrol, eight troopers have died while on duty.[17]
Rank
Name
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Age
Location
Trooper
William S. Kozlak
04-25-1934
Killed in a motorcycle crash
32
On Minnesota Highway 52 near Osseo, Minnesota
Trooper
Roy C. Lichtenheld
10-03-1934
Killed in a motorcycle crash
30
On Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota
Trooper
Ray X.F. Krueger
11-20-1959
Killed in a head-on car crash
47
On Minnesota Highway 210 near Brainerd, Minnesota
Trooper
Glen A. Skalman
12-27-1964
Succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on 12-17-1964 during a traffic stop
29
On US-61 near Forest Lake, Minnesota
Trooper
Donald Bert Ziesmer
10-15-1973
Shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car on a traffic stop
46
On Minnesota Highway 61 along the north shore of Lake Superior
Trooper
Roger Curtis Williams
02-22-1978
Struck and killed by an out-of-control vehicle while helping a motorist change a flat tire
53
On I-94 near Brandon, Minnesota
Corporal
Timothy Joseph Bowe
06-07-1997
Shot and killed as he and 3 county deputies approached a house where a shooting was reported
36
10 miles east of Cambridge, Minnesota in Chisago County
Corporal
Theodore Joseph "Ted" Foss
08-31-2000
Struck and killed by a tractor trailer while on a traffic stop
