Blog Archive: February 2024

​DPS divisions setting a new standard for excellence with national accreditation

Feb. 29

Our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and Minnesota State Patrol are positioned to be two of the only agencies in the state to receive law enforcement accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).​..

​​​Roadside testing project will give traffic safety experts new data on drugged driving

Feb. 26​

​Most Minnesotans are familiar with the preliminary breath test (PBT) and how our Minnesota State Patrol troopers and traffic enforcement partners use the roadside test to help keep our roads safe from alcohol-impaired drivers. But what’s the approach for detecting drugged driving?​

​​ DPS expands services in 2023, making sure you get the help you deserve

Feb. 20

Whether you are the victim of a crime, worried about traffic safety or looking to get your driver's license, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) spent 2023 improving our services to make sure you get the help you need when you need it...

​​ Honor missing and murdered Indigenous relatives each day with new special plate

Feb. 15

Mis​sing and Murdered Indigenous Day of Remembrance — which is Feb. 14 each year — honors Indigenous relatives missing from the lives of their loved ones. But they deserve more than just one day. That is why the Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR)...​

​​ SFM fire investigators get to the truth behind the blaze

Feb. 12

When a structure fire starts, firefighters rush to the scene to save lives and prevent as much property damage as they can. After each ember is cooled — a process that can take days for large fires — the fire investigation starts. Our State Fire Marshal (SFM) division fire investigators...​

​​​​​State Patrol thanks Minnesotans for stepping up to save lives

Feb. 9

Trooper Nick Diederich initiated 1,591 traffic stops in 2023 — but one stands out. During the stop, the young adult Diederich had pulled over broke down and had a mental health crisis. Diederich stayed with them during the crisis, and the two had a long roadside conversation.​..

​OTS grant program keeps kids safe as they get on and off the bus

Feb. 5

The anticipation of waiting to hop on the bus to see friends and go to school should be fun, not scary. Kids (and their parents) shouldn't have to worry about a driver ignoring the school bus stop arm and hitting them. Over the past two years, our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)...​

​​Get your teen ready to hit the road, regardless of how they learn

Feb. 1

On days when it feels like you need to do everything and be everywhere, having another licensed driver around can make a huge difference. However, it only helps whe​n you have the peace of mind of knowing that driver knows how to drive safely...

​​​​​​ More: January Blog ​A​rchive​​​