As staffing shortages at law enforcement agencies across Minnesota are reaching critical levels, more and more agencies are looking to non-traditional job candidates — for example, those who have a career in another field and are looking to switch — to serve their communities. 

“Minnesotans deserve to feel safe no matter where they live," DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. “Our goal is to provide this for them, but staffing challenges make this increasingly difficult." 

A new grant program administered by our Office of Justice Programs (OJP) aims to help agencies fill their ranks with qualified candidates who are ready to step up for their neighbors.  

• What it is: The Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training (ICPOET) grant program, which was created by the Minnesota Legislature, will support law enforcement agencies who have a plan to recruit, educate, hire and train qualified two- and four-year college graduates to become licensed peace officers. 
• By the numbers: Thirty-five agencies received the inaugural round of funding, $2.5 million, which will sponsor 50 candidates to attend the training starting in October. 
• More funding available: OJP will offer another $2.25 million in funding for agencies interested in participating in the second cohort. The request for proposal period will open on June 11 and close on July 31. 

Learn more here. 

Crime doesn't respect jurisdictions. That's why our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is taking a holistic approach to reducing violent crime statewide using the new Violent Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU). 

The VCRU builds on the successes of previous BCA initiatives, working with local partners across the state to reduce crime using a three-pronged approach: arresting repeat violent offenders, confiscating guns and pulling drugs off the street. 

“We can follow the criminals, guns and drugs wherever they go and pull them off the street before they can be used in a crime or hurt someone," said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. “We are proud to stand up this new unit and have them get to work on making Minnesota safer." 

• Building on success: The VCRU will expand upon the successes of the Violent Crime Reduction Support Initiative (VCRSI) launched in April 2022, which used a targeted approach and local partnerships to step up the fight against violent crime. 
• Sharing resources: The initiative was created to provide strategic resources including agents, criminal intelligence analysts and forensic scientists to support our local partners, who were seeing a spike in violent crime while also facing staffing shortages. 
• Unit make-up: The VCRU will include 17 BCA agents, one firearms detection K-9, two criminal intelligence analysts, two crime victim/witness coordinators and task force officers from a dozen local partner agencies. They will work out of a new, centralized location that will allow the unit to respond quickly in support of local partners in the Twin Cities Metro Area and beyond. 

Learn more here. 

As dangerous driving habits continue to be a major problem on Minnesota roads, our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is getting creative to help our law enforcement partners change those behaviors before they lead to a crash. 

OTS has awarded a total of $912,000 to law enforcement agencies to purchase 13 specialized pickup trucks, which will allow officers to conduct traffic enforcement from a higher vantage point. It will allow them a better view to see if drivers are distracted, not wearing their seat belt or engaging in other dangerous driving behaviors. 

• The danger: Preliminary figures show distracted driving contributed to an average of 29 deaths and 146 life-changing injuries a year from 2019 to 2023. 
• State-wide problem: During the April 2024 distracted driving enforcement campaign, law enforcement officers issued 5,380 citations for violations of Minnesota's hands-free cell phone law — nearly 2,000 more than during last year's campaign. 
• Tool for our partners: “When we respond to a crash, we see far too often how a dangerous choice can take a life or seriously hurt the people involved. By then, it's too late," said Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson. “The higher vantage point of the traffic safety vehicle will help us see distractions, unbelted passengers and child restraint issues and intervene before something terrible happens." 

Learn more here. 

Fire sprinkler systems can mean the difference between life and death, according to experts in our State Fire Marshal (SFM) division. You only have minutes to escape a burning building, and fire sprinklers can give you more time when each second is precious. 

Fires are burning hotter and faster due to all the plastics and synthetic materials in home furnishings. Luckily, sprinkler systems are making a difference. While we know not every save gets reported, our partners across the state reported 92 buildings were saved by sprinkler systems in 2023. 

Neighbors helping neighbors. Strangers helping strangers. A community coming together to rebuild and come back stronger.  

That is what is happening in Greenfield, Iowa, where an EF-4 tornado decimated 200 homes and killed five people May 21.  

Members of the Minnesota All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) spent two weeks in Greenfield to help our neighbors. They helped get information to residents, organize finances, consolidate donations, and give emergency management and city and county crews some much-needed rest and support.  

Gov. Tim Walz authorized the 14-day mission following a request from Iowa officials through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Our Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division coordinates the state’s EMAC requests. 

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