Lt. Col. Christina Bogojevic has spent nearly 20 years as a Minnesota State Patrol trooper, but certain days stick out.

Bogojevic, who was promoted to the agency's second-in-command Dec. 7, remembers working Christmas Eve 10 years ago. She was on day shift and was supposed to make it home by 4 p.m. to spend time with her family, but a driving complaint came in at 3 p.m. It was a 30-minute drive, but Bogojevic answered the call.

She found an elderly woman with dementia pulled into a driveway. The woman didn't know who lived there and she didn't have family in the area. Bogojevic drove the woman home and spent an hour visiting with her before going home to spend her Christmas Eve with her family.

While spending time chatting with an elderly woman at the holidays isn't necessarily part of a trooper's job, it reminds Bogojevic of the impact troopers and the Minnesota State Patrol can have.

“We go out and meet people, most of the time on their worst days, and we are able to be that bright spot, even if it's just for that short 5-minute interaction," Bogojevic said.

Bogojevic joined the Minnesota State Patrol in 2003. She had been a part-time law enforcement officer in Grand Meadow, Minn., and was looking for a full-time position. She decided on the State Patrol in part because of the training they offered, the ability to move throughout the state, and the leadership of then-Col. Anne Beers.

She was also passionate about the State Patrol's core values: respect, integrity, courage, honor and excellence. It's important to treat the people who live, work and play in Minnesota with respect, always do the right thing and have the courage to go out every day and work for the people of Minnesota without knowing what the day is going to bring.

“I truly do believe that we are all in this together: the State Patrol, local law enforcement, and the residents of Minnesota. Not one of us can do it all. We work together to create a safer Minnesota," Bogojevic said.

Bogojevic has spent most of her career working out of the State Patrol's Rochester district. She transitioned to working out of the State Patrol headquarters in St. Paul this December, being a leader and resource for troopers across Minnesota.

“I support them in the work they do every day and believe the work they do is critical. I encourage them to reflect on the differences they can and do make daily and strive for excellence when serving the citizens of Minnesota," Bogojevic said.

She is grateful for the opportunity to work with Col. Matt Langer and all of the other troopers and leaders in the state to serve the people of Minnesota.