Behind every role at the Minnesota State Patrol is a person carrying the weight of public service, often through long hours, high stress and traumatic incidents few people will ever face. This past summer has brought extraordinary challenges, including the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, the death of a trooper in July and a shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis.

Even in the face of these tragedies, our State Patrol team continues to serve Minnesotans with dedication, discipline and professionalism. Two people, coming from different paths, have helped ensure troopers don’t have to carry the weight of the work they do alone.

A chaplain who walked beside the badge

When Chaplain John Morris retired in August, he closed a chapter in his life story that began almost by chance but grew into a lifeline for many within the Patrol.

A U.S. Army veteran and former National Guard chaplain, Morris served multiple tours in the Middle East and later helped create a reintegration program for returning Guard members. That work eventually brought him to the State Patrol in 2005 when he approached the agency about creating a similar program for troopers returning from combat.

“I had actually met the State Patrol before, as a speeder, twice,” he said with a grin. “But I never really paid close attention to the mission until I worked alongside them helping National Guard members return home.”

During Minnesota’s 2020 civil unrest, Morris saw familiar signs of combat stress among troopers. He offered to help and soon launched the State Patrol’s first Chaplain Program.

His approach was simple. “Show up and shut up.”

Through countless ride-alongs and quiet conversations, he earned the trust of troopers who often carry invisible burdens.

“Every time they respond to a fatal crash, a piece of their soul is taken,” he said. “They may look professional and steady, but that weight stays with them.”

Morris emphasized that chaplaincy is not necessarily about religion. 

“We’re not here to sell anything,” he explained. “We’re here to walk beside you, to remind you that you’re seen, valued and not alone. Whether you have faith or not, you deserve support.”

He has witnessed troopers endure historic challenges and never falter.

“No one went AWOL. Nobody broke under pressure,” he said. “Leadership stayed rock-steady, and troopers kept their moral compass pointed north. That’s rare. That’s honorable.”

As Morris concludes his years of service, Chaplain Michael Flavin is taking over the role of Principal Chaplain, ensuring this important resource continues.

A wellness coordinator building a culture of care

Where Morris focused on spiritual and emotional support, Amy Schweigert is working to build a broader culture of wellness that reaches every corner of the agency. And sometimes, her helpers have four paws.

Her two Australian cattle dogs, Eloise and Emmy, are the unofficial mascots of the State Patrol’s wellness efforts. While they bring a lighthearted presence, the role they play is serious — helping staff and troopers process stress and trauma. Schweigert often brings them to visit staff and troopers after critical incidents, where they break the ice, ease tension and help people open up about what they’ve experienced. 

Eloise is particularly good at finding and sitting by someone who is experiencing higher stress. 

“It brings a little levity to really challenging situations,” Schweigert said.

Beyond her K-9 partners, Schweigert brings real-world expertise to the role. Hired in June 2024 as the State Patrol’s first wellness coordinator, she oversees three main programs: the Peer Support Team, the Chaplain Program and agencywide wellness initiatives. As a licensed psychologist, family therapist and certified therapy dog handler, she brings a clinical understanding of stress and trauma to her work.

“Wellness in law enforcement is changing and evolving,” Schweigert said. “And the State Patrol is trying to be on the cutting edge of wellness.”

The Peer Support Team, launched in 2008, remains the backbone of the Patrol’s wellness efforts. It now includes 95 trained members, with 32 added in August alone, the largest training class to date. Peer support members complete a 40-hour training, which is above the state minimum, and meet regularly for refreshers. These team members are spread across Minnesota, so every trooper, dispatcher and support staff member has someone nearby who they can talk to. And most importantly, someone who will understand the stresses of the job they face each day.

“I think a big challenge is that often, first responders will go and see a therapist or a mental health provider who doesn’t really understand their work,” Schweigert said. “I’ve had so many people who have told me the therapist started crying when they told them about a traumatic call they responded to. Or they told them they should look for a different job because it was too stressful.”

New cadets are also now paired with peer support members who check with them weekly to help the new recruits emotionally navigate the challenges of the training academy. This gets new troopers connected and comfortable using wellness resources early on.

“I think it has been the culture of first responder work for so long across the country of, ‘pull yourself up, get back out there. You’re OK,’” Schweigert added. “We’re definitely working to change that culture and perception by normalizing and destigmatizing mental health and wellness in general, of asking for support and needing that help.”

Two paths, one mission

Though Morris and Schweigert come from different backgrounds, they share the same goal of helping troopers thrive as human beings, not just as law enforcers.

According to Schweigert, studies show the general population will be exposed to one to four critical incidents or traumatic events throughout their lifetime, but first responders or law enforcement will experience hundreds of critical incidents throughout their career. 

“That’s obviously going to take a toll. They’re not robots. They’re human as well,” Schweigert said.

“Under that hat is a human being, intelligent, compassionate, who is deeply committed to keeping people safe,” Morris added. “Every ticket written, every crash investigated, every life saved is an act of service. These men and women absorb society’s worst moments so the rest of us can travel safely. Respect that. They’ve earned it.”

Together, their efforts underscore a simple but powerful reality: caring for the people behind the badge strengthens the mission of the Minnesota State Patrol and the safety of every person they serve.