| Minnesota State Patrol | |
| Abbreviation | MSP |
| Patch of the Minnesota State Patrol. | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1929 |
| Employees | 821 (as of 2004) [1] |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | State of Minnesota, USA |
| Minnesota State Patrol Districts | |
| Size | 87,014 square miles (225,370 km2) |
| Population | 5,197,621 (2007 est.)[2] |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Troopers | 544 (as of 2004) [3] |
| Civilians | 277 (as of 2004) [4] |
| Agency executive | Colonel Kevin Daly, Chief |
| Parent agency | Minnesota Department of Public Safety |
| Patrol Districts | 11 |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 61 |
| Website | |
| http://www.dps.state.mn.us/patrol/ | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Minnesota State Patrol is the statewide police force in the state of Minnesota. The State Patrol concentrates primarily on traffic enforcement and highway safety. 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 grounds 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.
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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.
The first training school was held January 18 to April 1, 1930. This school graduated the first 35 members of the Minnesota Highway Patrol. [5]
In 1974 the Highway Patrol was reorganized and the official name was changed to the “Minnesota State Patrol.” [6]
The patch worn by members of the Minnesota State Patrol evolved from "The Great Seal" which is placed on all official state documents. The design is similar to the territorial seal which was used from 1849 until the adoption of the State Seal in 1858. It depicts a man in the foreground plowing, while a Native American is riding into the sunset in the background. The picture on the seal is a scene near St. Anthony Falls, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Motto "l’Etoile Du Nord" was selected by the first governor, Henry H. Sibley, which translated is "The North Star", thereby making Minnesota, "The North Star State".[7]
Since the establishment of the Minnesota State Patrol, 8 officers have died in the line of duty.[8]
| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Trooper William S. Kozlak | Wednesday, April 25, 1934 | Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper Roy C. Lichtenheld | Wednesday, October 3, 1934 | Motorcycle accident |
| Trooper Ray X. F. Krueger | Friday, November 20, 1959 | Automobile accident |
| Trooper Glen A. Skalman | Sunday, December 27, 1964 | Gunfire |
| Trooper Donald Bert Ziesmer | Monday, October 15, 1973 | Gunfire |
| Trooper Roger Curtis Williams | Wednesday, February 22, 1978 | Struck by vehicle |
| Corporal Timothy Joseph Bowe | Saturday, June 7, 1997 | Gunfire |
| Corporal Theodore Joseph Foss | Thursday, August 31, 2000 | Struck by vehicle |
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