By the numbers: How Minnesota DPS serves you, 24 hours a day
Jan. 9, 2023
It can be hard to put everything that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety does into words.
So we put it into numbers.
Our more than 2,100 employees worked across the state last year serving Minnesota's nearly six million residents.
Here are just a few of the accomplishments we're proud of and thought you'd like to know:
- Our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) tested evidence from 19,551 cases.
- Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) processed 5,462 same-day driver's licenses and IDs since Oct. 3 at Moorhead and Lakeville.
- Our Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division helped Minnesotans deal with three Presidential Disaster Declarations totaling about $50 million in damages.
- Our Office of Justice Programs (OJP) worked with more than 1,000 victims, criminal justice professionals, and members of the public.
- The Minnesota State Patrol responded to 25,458 crashes.
“Our staff proved they are always on the job somewhere, 24 hours a day, in every part of the state," said DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson. “The people of Minnesota can thrive only when they feel safe in their communities. We are proud of the work we did last year and are dedicated in 2023 to continuing to keep people safe and improve the lives of those who live, work and play here."
In 2022, our staff investigated fires, inspected schools and health care facilities, stopped street racers, and distributed grants to help stop drivers from ignoring the law requiring them to stop for school buses. They reopened driver's exam stations, which were closed during the COVID-19 state emergency, and traveled to other states to help people there recover from natural disasters.
We helped distribute more than 10,000 free gun locks at the Minnesota State Fair and an additional 25,000 since then to help every gun owner in Minnesota store firearms in a safe and secure manner to reduce suicides, thefts, injuries and crimes committed with guns.
“We strive to provide timely, accurate and compassionate service to all Minnesotans," Jacobson said. “Not only on a person's worst day or during an emergency, but when people are making important decisions like buying a smoke alarm or celebrating milestones like getting a driver's license, which are equally important."
It's a privilege to come to work and serve Minnesotans every day. A complete rundown of what we are here for would take more space than is available in this blog, but you can read the
partial list here.
These numbers show just a fraction of what we do each year to serve Minnesotans. Follow our divisions on social media to keep up to date on breaking public safety news and learn how you can help us create a safer Minnesota.
