Driven to serve: Jeremy Geiger named State Patrol's lieutenant colonel
June 13, 2024
Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger’s wife and grandson pin his new rank on his uniform as he is promoted to second-in-command of the Minnesota State Patrol. A lot of things have kept Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger going throughout his decades in the Minnesota State Patrol: the support of his family, the camaraderie between troopers and the chance to make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.
“That's the drive: To make sure that the next generation and everybody who comes after us carries on those traditions, but also has their foot in the next doorway too," Geiger said. “We can be grounded in tradition, but we have to keep on moving forward to serve the people of Minnesota."
Geiger was made second-in-command of the patrol last week during a promotion ceremony in St. Paul.
“Throughout his 26-year career with the State Patrol, Lt. Col. Geiger has demonstrated his dedication to public service and to the core values of our agency," Col. Christina Bogojevic, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, said. “We are lucky to have his experience and leadership. His work will continue to have a positive impact within the State Patrol and the communities we serve."
Geiger has always felt a familial connection to the Minnesota State Patrol. He first decided to join the agency in high school, after going on ride-alongs with his uncle — a major in the State Patrol — and other troopers in the Brainerd district.
Geiger's career in the State Patrol began in 1998 when he attended the cadet academy at Camp Ripley after graduating college and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. After becoming a trooper, he worked his way up in the Mankato district, getting promoted to field lieutenant in 2011, then captain in 2013. Meanwhile, he served in the Minnesota State Patrol Honor Guard, as an instructor at Camp Ripley and commander of the Mobile Response Team, along with completing his other duties.
In 2021, Geiger was given a temporary assignment at the State Patrol headquarters, which became permanent later that year. Since then, he and his team have worked to implement special projects such as:
- Distributing body-worn cameras to each trooper and ensuring they are trained in how to properly use them.
- Creating the
State Patrol data dashboard, which builds trust between the State Patrol and the people we serve by giving the public easier access to data, policies and other information about the agency.
- Organizing the State Patrol's presence at the Minnesota State Fair.
- Contributing to the pre-design of the planned new State Patrol headquarters building, which will allow us to better serve all Minnesotans.
Through it all, Geiger has always stayed focused on the State Patrol's mission of traffic safety. He remembers his first fatal crash vividly, especially his conversation with the family members of the victim afterward. That experience has shaped him throughout his entire career, really emphasizing how important the State Patrol's traffic safety mission is to the people of our state and building a sense of empathy that Geiger brings to every interaction.
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