| Agencyname: | Minnesota State Patrol |
| Abbreviation: | MSP |
| Patch: | Minnesota State Patrol patch.jpg |
| Patchcaption: | Official Patch of the Minnesota State Patrol |
| Logocaption: | Minnesota Department of Public Safety Logo |
| Preceding1: | Minnesota Highway Patrol (1929–1973) |
| Employees: | 886 (as of 2017)[1] |
| Country: | United States |
| Divtype: | State |
| Divname: | State of Minnesota |
| Map: | MN - State Patrol Districts.png |
| Sizearea: | 87014sqmi |
| Sizepopulation: | 5,628,162 (2018 est.)[2] |
| Police: | Yes |
| Headquarters: | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Sworntype: | Troopers |
| Sworn: | 625 (authorized, as of 2024)[3] |
| Unsworntype: | Civilian employees |
| Unsworn: | 295 (as of 2017)[4] |
| Chief1name: | Colonel Matthew C Langer[5] |
| Parentagency: | Minnesota Department of Public Safety |
| Officetype: | Patrol District |
| Officename: | 11 |
| Stationtype: | Station |
| Stations: | 61 |
| Vehicle1type: | (2019) Dodge Charger Pursuit(2017) Ford Taurus Police Interceptor(2013) Ford Police Interceptor Utility |
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]
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] 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 worn by members of the Minnesota State Patrol evolved from "The Great Seal" which is placed on all official state documents.
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]
[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.
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 District | District Office | Station Offices | Counties (or area) served |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 2000 | All (statewide):
| ||
| District 2100 | Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona | ||
| District 2200 | Fairmont, Hutchinson, New Ulm | Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan | |
| District 2300 | Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, and Yellow Medicine | ||
| District 2400 | Oakdale (East Metro) | Forest Lake, Lakeland, Richfield, South St. Paul, St. Paul. | Anoka (part), Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin (part), Ramsey (part), Scott (part), and Washington |
| District 2500 | Golden 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 2600 | Benton, Big Stone, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd (part), Traverse, and Wright | ||
| District 2700 | Carlton, Cook, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis (part) | ||
| District 2800 | Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard (part), Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Morrison | ||
| District 2900 | Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Todd (part), Wadena, and Wilkin | ||
| District 3100 | Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis (part) | ||
| District 3200 | Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard (part), Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau | ||
| District 4600 | Capitol Security & Executive Protection | Minnesota State Capitol complex & grounds, Minnesota Governor's Residence, Protection of the Governor of Minnesota and other state executives and officials as needed | |
| District 4700 | Commercial Vehicle Enforcement | All (statewide), enforce laws pertaining to motor carriers and Commercial vehicles by performing Commercial Vehicle Inspections and operating statewide scales | |
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 | Insignia | |
|---|---|---|
| Colonel | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel | ||
| Major | ||
| Captain | ||
| Lieutenant | ||
| Sergeant | ||
| Trooper |
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 | 35 | On I-90 near Lewiston, Minnesota[18] |