Department of Public Safety Blog

​Rediscovering purpose: Finding fulfillment at DPS by serving the community

April 25

Leaving the military after dedicating 22 years of service can be a daunting transition. For many, it's not just a career change but a shift in identity and purpose. I can attest to this firsthand. After bidding farewell to the structured life of the military, I found myself grappling with a profound...

​ What's a CERT & why should my community have one?

April 22

From wildfires to train derailments, emergencies can strike at any tim​e and the initial response can be overwhelming for first responders. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs help bridge the gap between when an emergency happens and when first responders can assist. These volunteers learn how to protect themselves, their loved ones, their neighbors and the community by assisting...

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Call 811 before you dig to avoid calling 911 later

April 18

P​​eople across Minnesota are headed out to enjoy the warmth — and maybe even get some gardening or yard projects done. ​​​Whether you are doing something small like planting flowers or large like building a deck, our Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) asks you to remember the Safe Digging Month message: Call 811 before you dig...​ ​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​'First first responders' ​​make a difference

April 15

It’s just after 3:30 a.m. and the shrill sound of the dispatch center’s 911 line ringing jolts me into action. My colleagues perk up. Calls at this hour can turn in a flash into an all-hands-on-deck situation. “911, what’s the address of your emergency?” The second the man on the other end of the line begins speaking, I know this won’t be the typical middle-of-the-night call​... ​ ​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Don't rely on odds to prevent a fatal house fire

April 11​​​​​

Charred furniture. Soot. ​Soaked debris. Darkness. In the midst of it all, two firefighters are working their way through the rubble ​looking for victims — and they are certain there is at least one. They find Ronald first. “It is an image that is just as clear to me today as it was more than 10 years ago,” said Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Amanda Swenson.​.. ​​  ​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Navigate severe weather with a mapped-out family emergency plan

April 8​​​​​

Minnesota is a land of 10,000 lakes — and tornados, floods, wildfires, severe heat and other severe weather threats. While most of these threats cannot be entirely avoided, they can be planned for to lessen their impact on your family... ​  ​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Col. Matt Langer saying goodbye to ​​State Patrol

April 4​​​​​

One ride-along. That’s all it took to cement in a young Matt Langer’s heart that being a trooper in the Minnesota State Patrol was his calling. ​Fast forward 30 years. Langer, who spent his ​​career with the agency, knows he made the right decision to put on the maroon and gold uniform. That one ride-along paved the way to ultimately earning a ​​​spot in the ​​academy... ​​  ​

​​​​​​​​ ​Protect yourself and your loved ones: P​ark the phone and pay attention while driving

April 1​​

You see it, and it’s so aggravating. That vehicle ahead of you, slowly drifting in and out of the lane and onto the shoulder. You notice the driver holding their phone, actively engaged in conversation, or they’re looking down, glancing up occasionally to check the road...​

​​​​​​ More: March Blog ​A​rchive​​​