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History Timeline
Page Content State Patrol "History Highway"
1929
Minnesota State Legislature creates the Highway Patrol in response to the boom in automobiles.
The first chief was Earle Brown.
Initial force was comprised of nine men, including Brown.
One of Chief Brown's core values: "They must be courteous in all contacts with the public." That's something that is still stressed today.
1930
Henry Ford’s Model A was the standard patrol vehicle in the winter. Patrolmen exchanged milk cans full of hot water for heat.
In the spring, summer and early fall, troopers patrolled on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which they were required to supply themselves.
The early years of the patrol were spent on “goodwill work” — courtesy patrols to help motorists in difficulty. Enforcement was mostly limited to warnings.
Officers worked 12-16 hours per day, seven days per week, with one day off per month for a maximum pay of $150 per month.
Chief Brown almost lost his job when he and another highway patrol officer chased and subsequently arrested three individuals who had robbed the Elk River bank. We were reprimanded for following them off of the trunk highway before making the arrest," Brown remembered.
1931
1934
First patrolman killed in the line of duty: William Kozlak.
Patrol was authorized to enforce speed limits on trunk highways.
Many motorists arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (despite prohibition.) The DWI cases were written up as “careless driving.”
The original trooper uniform — long gray coat, riding boots, gray knee-high pants and eight-corner hat — was replaced by maroon and gold uniforms. The change was made to honor the University of Minnesota football national championship team.
1943
1948
1957
1958
Black squad cars replaced with maroon cars with white doors.
Safety Education Officers (now know as Public Information Officers) are assigned in each District to help educate people on traffic safety issues.
1962
1968
1969
1970
1971
1973
With the increased jurisdiction in 1971, the Highway Patrol changed its name to the State Patrol, Officers were now called Troopers, and the uniform hat was changed to the widely recognized campaign hat.
1974
1976
1978
1980
1987
1994
1994
1997
2001
2007
2008
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