# Minnesota State Patrol *State patrol agency of Minnesota; a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.* The **Minnesota State Patrol** is the main state-level patrol agency of [[Minnesota]] and functions in practice as the state's police force.[^1] Its troopers may make arrests anywhere in the state. The agency's principal work, however, is traffic safety and the enforcement of vehicle law. Organizationally it sits within the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.[^1] The agency was founded in 1929 as the Minnesota Highway Patrol and took its present name in 1973.[^2] It now operates 11 districts and 61 stations.[^6] On June 30, 2025, it bought a $13,400,000 site in Roseville, the first property it has owned.[^7] The Patrol publishes a mission statement and a list of core values; both are quoted below beside the agency's operational figures.[^3] The sources assembled for this article include no audit, court finding or federal filing concerning the Patrol. The record here therefore does not establish how the agency's outputs compare with its stated mission. ## Who The Patrol is a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.[^1] As of the cited revision, Colonel Christina Bogojevic is Chief of the State Patrol and Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger is Assistant Chief.[^6] The agency began with an appointment by Charles M. Babcock, then Commissioner of Highways. In 1929 he named Earle Brown, the [[sheriff]] of Hennepin County, as Chief of the Highway Patrol.[^2] ## What Most of the Patrol's activity is highway-safety work: traffic enforcement, investigation of impaired driving, and crash response. The agency also holds a statewide law-enforcement role.[^4] City and county agencies call on troopers when a situation is higher-risk or when they lack the staff to respond.[^4] Troopers also carry out crash reconstruction, vehicle-crime investigations and commercial-vehicle enforcement. A capitol security division, made up of troopers and non-sworn security officers, protects the [[Minnesota State Capitol]] complex and the [[governor]].[^4] The Patrol has three specialized units:[^4] - a K-9 unit directed at drug interdiction; - a mobile response team used for crowd control and extra security at public events; - a Special Response Team that operates as a SWAT team. Troopers formerly carried the Glock 17 Gen 5 in 9mm. In 2026 the Patrol issued the Glock 45 in 9mm, with red dot sight capability, and kept the Streamlight TLR-7 weapon-mounted light.[^4] The flight section flies airplanes and helicopters for search and rescue, for mitigating vehicle pursuits, for locating missing persons or suspects on foot, and for traffic enforcement.[^5] The agency gives its mission as "to protect and serve all people in the state through assistance, education, and enforcement; provide support to allied agencies; and provide for the safe, efficient movement of traffic on Minnesota's roadways."[^3] It lists five core values: respect, integrity, courage, honor and excellence. Cadets are taught these values on their first day at the academy.[^3] ## When - **1929.** Babcock appointed Brown as chief. On July 1, 1929, Brown appointed eight officers.[^2] - **1930.** The first training school ran from January 18 to April 1, 1930. It graduated the first 35 members of the Highway Patrol.[^2] - **1973.** The Highway Patrol was reorganized and renamed the Minnesota State Patrol.[^2] - **2024.** The State of Minnesota replaced its state seal and state flag in May 2024. The Patrol's earlier patch had derived from the former Great Seal. In August 2024 the Patrol announced a revised logo for its patches and badges. Rather than adopt the new state seal, which features the Common Loon, it designed its own center seal.[^9] - **2025.** The Roseville property purchase is dated June 30, 2025.[^7] - **2026.** The new sidearm was issued.[^4] As of the cited revision, the Patrol planned to demolish the Roseville buildings in 2026 and begin building a metropolitan headquarters.[^7] ## Where The Patrol is headquartered in St. Paul. Its headquarters and command staff are grouped in District 2000, together with the Flight Section, the Investigative Services Section, and Training & Development.[^6] The flight section operates from airports in St. Paul and Brainerd.[^5] The Roseville site lies in the 1500 block of Highway 36. It holds two buildings that have stood unused for several years. One was formerly used by the [[Minnesota Department of Education]] and the other by National American University.[^7] The planned headquarters would consolidate six metropolitan locations:[^7] - the central headquarters in Saint Paul; - the east metro district office in [[Oakdale]]; - the west metro district office in Golden Valley; - the commercial vehicle district office in Mendota Heights; - the investigative services section in Golden Valley; - the training and development section in Shoreview. ## How A captain leads each district office. Each office is staffed by lieutenants, investigators and troopers, with communications and support personnel.[^6] Until the Roseville purchase, the Patrol owned no building of its own. It leased space for its troopers from the [[Minnesota Department of Transportation]] and other entities.[^7] ## How much The Patrol paid $13,400,000 for the Roseville property on June 30, 2025.[^7] ## How many - **Founding.** Eight officers were appointed in 1929, and 35 graduated from the first training school in 1930.[^2] - **Organization.** The Patrol has 11 districts divided into 61 stations.[^6] - **Flight section.** It employs 13 trooper pilots and seven aircraft, based in two cities.[^5] - **Planned headquarters.** It would combine six metropolitan locations.[^7] - **Seal.** The new Patrol seal shows the [[Mississippi River]], seven Norway Pines and a four-point North Star. The seven pines stand for troopers working seven days a week.[^9] - **Fallen troopers.** Eight troopers have died on duty since the Patrol was established. Their badge numbers were retired and have not been reissued to new academy graduates.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, lead section (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — role as de facto state police, arrest powers, traffic-safety function, place within the Department of Public Safety. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^2]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "History" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — 1929 creation and appointments, July 1, 1929 hiring of eight officers, 1930 training school and 35 graduates, 1973 renaming. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^3]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "History" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — text of the agency's mission statement and core values. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^4]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "Duties" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — enforcement duties, assistance to local agencies, capitol security, specialized units, sidearms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^5]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "Duties" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — flight section staffing, aircraft, bases and missions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^6]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "Organization" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — headquarters, districts and stations, command staff, District 2000. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^7]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "Organization" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — June 30, 2025 Roseville purchase, price, prior use of buildings, planned consolidation, prior leasing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^8]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "Fallen troopers" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — eight on-duty deaths and retired badge numbers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol [^9]: Wikipedia, *Minnesota State Patrol*, "The patch" (revision 1378920809, retrieved 2026-10-27) — May 2024 state seal and flag replacement, August 2024 patch redesign, elements of the new Patrol seal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Patrol