ST. PAUL – Two Minnesota Department of Public Safety divisions have been and will continue significant efforts to combat violent crime in Minneapolis and surrounding communities. This work by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) is in response to a significant rise in gun-related crimes, car-jackings, street racing and other violent crimes plaguing these communities over the past two years.
In response to recent activity, the Minnesota State Patrol will significantly increase its presence around the Twin Cities in the coming weeks in response to an increase in criminal activity and street racing this past weekend.
“We have seen dangerous activity escalate in the Twin Cities metro region in the last few weeks," said Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington. “The Department of Public safety -- including the BCA and MSP -- are continuing to work in partnership bringing together our state, local and federal agencies to hold offenders accountable and to keep our communities safe."
Last May, Gov. Tim Walz also provided DPS with $4 million – $1 million each to the State Patrol and BCA to support these initiatives, and another $2 million to a DPS Survivor Support grant program to assist state organizations continuing to support Minneapolis.
BCA efforts
Since April, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has opened 93 cases, made 171 arrests and seized 109 firearms in Minneapolis. In addition the BCA has reduced the firearms evidence entry backlog by 25 percent and is using additional NIBIN equipment provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to further decrease the backlog and immediately address any new firearms evidence recovered in BCA operations.
“We greatly appreciate the support by the ATF," said Drew Evans, Superintendent of the BCA. “And we are working very hard assisting Minneapolis, and the region, in addressing violent crime. We have worked with our local, state, and federal partners to arrest numerous violent criminals as part of this assistance and continue this work to reduce violence in Minneapolis and surrounding areas."
The BCA has assigned 12 state investigators and 1 criminal analyst to conduct homicide and gun crime investigations in Minneapolis and surrounding communities. These dedicated resources are assigned until September 2022 and additional focused enforcement details are scheduled for July and August.
The BCA focus on DNA processing of violent crimes has also ramped up in 2022. The section has completed over 6,600 DNA reports statewide while also decreasing the turn-around time for violent crime analysis. The section has reported on over 360 violent crime cases for the city of Minneapolis, releasing results to three weeks or less on average. This service provides critical information to assist in these time sensitive investigations.
State patrol efforts
“The State Patrol has been providing considerable resources to the Twin Cities through the summer, and that is what you will see again this weekend," said Col. Matt Langer, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol. “The lawless and dangerous street racing we are seeing is unacceptable and must stop. The State Patrol will continue working hard to keep Minnesotans safe."
The Minnesota State Patrol will significantly increase its presence around the Twin Cities in the coming weeks in response to an increase in criminal activity and street racing this past weekend.
On July 8 and July 9, the State Patrol will assign 20 additional troopers and aviation resources to designated areas of the Twin Cities, primarily in Minneapolis. State troopers will focus enforcement efforts on street racing. Additional 911 dispatchers will also be dedicated to the extra enforcement.
The 20 troopers are in addition to the high visibility patrol the state patrol is conducting in high crime areas in Minneapolis to assist the Minneapolis Police Department. Three days each week, four troopers assigned to two squad cars conduct high visibility patrols. Troopers do not respond to 911 calls, but do coordinate with MPD officers on work that originates out of the patrols.
The State Patrol will also continue its Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) speed reduction program across the state and will have additional troopers in the metro the following weekend as part of Project 20(22). During the State Patrol's HEAT, Project 20(22) and street racing patrols, troopers have worked over 8,000 hours, made over 14,000 traffic stops, made 203 arrests, removed 96 impaired drivers from Minnesota roads and recovered 88 firearms.
About Project 20(22)
Project 20(22) was designed to help stop dangerous driving behaviors. Troopers will use a team approach to traffic safety rooted in the history of the agency. It was first created as Project 20 in October 1979 and operated through October 1982. The State Patrol and Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety worked together to bring it back as a statewide Toward Zero Deaths initiative.
About HVP
Since May 5, the State Patrol has assigned four troopers in two squad cars to conduct high visibility patrols in designated areas of the city. State troopers will not be responding to 911 calls, but will coordinate with MPD officers on work that originates out of these patrols. The city is reimbursing the State Patrol for all expenses related to the patrols, and the effort will likely last through the summer.
About Heat Patrols
The Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) focuses on traffic safety while providing an increased law enforcement presence in an area with public safety concerns. In addition to troopers on the freeway, the State Patrol utilizes its aviation support during the HEAT patrols to ensure that a driver attempting to flee from a traffic stop will be located and held accountable.
About the Minnesota State Patrol
Nearly 600 Minnesota State Patrol troopers are the foundation of the agency that works to provide a safe environment on Minnesota's roads by assisting motorists, taking enforcement action and educating drivers about traffic safety issues. In addition to road safety activities, troopers conduct flight patrols, search and rescue missions and assist other law enforcement agencies.
About the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) provides investigative and specialized law enforcement services to prevent and solve crimes in partnership with law enforcement, public safety and criminal justice agencies. Services include forensic laboratory analysis, criminal histories, investigations and criminal justice training.
The BCA also encourages citizens to help fight crime by coming forward with information that may help solve a case, prevent a threatened crime. There are a number of options for providing information to the BCA:
- Call the BCA Tipline at 1-877-996-6222.
- Email the BCA at bca.tips@state.mn.us.
- Use the BCA tip app to send information from your mobile device about threats of violence at schools or places of worship.
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