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Col. Matt Langer speaks at a news conference as DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson looks on. ​Minnesota State Patrol: New dashboard builds trust with those we serve​​

March 23

The Minnesota State Patrol launched an online accountability dashboard on our Department of Public Safety (DPS) website this week, giving the public easier access to data, policies and other information about the agency. Our goal: promote accountability and build trust...

A house on fire. Text that says cigarettes burn slowly, houses don't. Careless smoking causes fatal fires. The haunting truth about smoking-related fires

March 20

After more than 40 years in the fire service, State Fire Marshal Jim Smith will never forget one of his early calls. A passerby spotted flames in a living room window and called 911. Smith was among the firefighters who arrived and quickly put out the fire. During the search of the home, the firefighters entered the bedroom and found the lifeless body...​


A green, four-leaf clover background with text that says driving is not a drinking game. Drive sober. Drive Smart! Extra Enforcement Now.​​​​​No luck of the Irish for dru​​​nk drivers

March 16

Whether you're hitting a St. Patrick's Day parade or celebrating with a green beer at a local bar, you don't have to be Irish to get in on the fun on Friday. But to keep it fun while you take in the parades, parties, music and favorite beverages, plan for a sober ride home to get everyone home safe. To stop bad choices from jeopardizing lives as people enjoy the celebration, troopers, deputies and officers are participating in a statewide DWI extra enforcement campaign this weekend. Our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) coordinates the campaign...

Text that says ​​​​​​Speed survey to give direction as we tackle dangerous driving habits

March 13

If you want to know how serious the speeding problem is in Minnesota, just go out and drive. The ongoing risk to Minnesotans' lives is clear when you look at the numbers. Last year, preliminary data show that approximately 27 percent of fatalities were speed related. Compare that with 35 percent in 2021 and 31 percent in 2020. OTS is taking the problem seriously, working with partner agencies to create a speed survey intended to identify factors that contribute to speeding and other risky behaviors...

A battery being inserted into a smoke/CO alarm Spring forward: Change your smoke and CO alarm batteries on Sunday along with your clocks​​​​

March 10

It may not look like spring yet, but it's time to spring forward one hour into daylight saving time. While we're all changing our clocks an hour ahead Sunday morning, take the time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. During a fire, each second is precious...

A man shooting a handgun at targets Pe​rmit to Carry annual report shines light on handguns in Minnesota

March 8

Just under 400,000 people have a permit to carry a handgun in Minnesota, according to the 2022 Permit to Carry Annual Report released March 1. Our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) compiles the report based on data submitted by Minnesota law enforcement agencies...


Two 911 dispatchers at their workstations ​​​​When emergencies know no bounds: How 911 calls work along Minnesota’s borders​

March 6

Picture this: You're spending a long weekend camping near one of Minnesota's borders. You're having a good time on a hike or in a lake, then emergency strikes. You call 911, but because you're unfamiliar with the area, you can only give general location information. You don't know...

​​​​Troopers saluting at graduation​​​​​Ready to make a difference? Consider the State Patrol

March 2​​​

During the pandemic, many of us took the time to take stock of our lives and our careers, reevaluating what we want to contribute to the world. If you're looking for something new and have a passion for public service, consider applying for the Minnesota State Patrol's...​​

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More: February Blog Ar​​chive​​