MnDPS
Public Safety: In Focus -- February 15, 2019
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- February 15, 2019
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- ☑️ Explosions. ☑️ Dangerous winter weather. ☑️ A presidential disaster declaration. ☑️ A missing woman identified after 49 years. ☑️ DPS at the annual governor’s conference and International Motorcycle Show.
All that and more in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- State Patrol LETO: Cadet Eric Fairchild
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Making a career change can be difficult.
But for Eric Fairchild, our Law Enforcement Training Opportunity Program (LETO) made the change worthwhile — and relatively painless because he knew he had a job waiting for him.
Learn more at www.mntrooper.com
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- State Patrol LETO: Trooper Chris Lohmer
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Trooper Chris Lohmer says the option for him to choose where he worked when he was hired by the State Patrol was one of the things that drew him to the agency.
If you’re looking for a change and want to make a difference, we’re looking for people from all over the state to apply to become a trooper through our Law Enforcement Training Opportunity (LETO) Program.
Learn more at www.mntrooper.com
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- State Patrol LETO: Trooper Paul Bartusch
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- The option to choose where he worked drew Trooper Paul Bartusch to the Minnesota State Patrol.
“It will be the best choice you ever make,” Bartusch says after nearly seven years on the road.
Learn more about the option to choose where you’re stationed and more about our Law Enforcement Training Opportunity (LETO) Program at www.mntrooper.com
Applications due Feb. 15. No law enforcement experience necessary.
- Title
- State Patrol LETO: Cadet Kristina Meanley
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Talk about a 180.
From professional clarinetist to cadet at the State Patrol Academy. And hopefully one day — trooper. Kristina Meanley talks about her career change and what it’s like being a woman in the academy.
We are hiring. No law enforcement experience necessary. More at www.trooper.com.
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- February 1, 2019
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- From investigating natural gas outages during the recent arctic blast, to reminding Minnesotans to line up a sober ride for the Super Bowl, Department of Public Safety employees have been busy.
The latest in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- State Patrol LETO: Trooper Vanessa Heller
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- “I don’t regret a single second.”
Vanessa Heller wasn’t satisfied working in court administration. So she applied for the State Patrol and became a trooper through our Law Enforcement Training Opportunity (LETO) program.
Now is your chance to make a difference and save lives like Trooper Heller. No law experience is necessary.
Apply at www.mntrooper.com.
- Title
- Colonel Matt Langer: Join the Minnesota State Patrol
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- January 11, 2019
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Last year brought a steep drop in fire deaths and 2,757 DWI arrests during extra enforcement.
The new year brought a new commissioner to the Department of Public Safety.
It’s all in this week’s edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- DWI Arrests: Lt. Gordon Shank - Minnesota State Patrol
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- There are many words you could use to describe peoples’ choice to drive drunk. For Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Gordon Shank, “frustrating” often comes to mind.
When you watch these dashcam videos of drunk drivers he’s pulled over, you can see why.
Don’t be these drivers. Please plan a sober ride. Extra enforcement is on Minnesota roads.
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- December 21, 2018
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Balloons helping students identify fingerprint patterns.
A tale of two Christmas trees.
Powerful photos of a distracted driving crash.
How a disaster recovery specialist is helping California wildfire survivors.
It’s all in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Extra DWI Patrols: Officer Alex Graham - St. Paul Police Department
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- If you feel different, you drive different, whether it’s from alcohol, a prescription med or any other drug.
St. Paul Police Officer Alex Graham cautions drivers about the effects of alcohol, marijuana and medications. Impaired driving is impaired driving, regardless of the substance involved.
Don’t chance it. Always plan a sober ride.
dps.mn.gov
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- December 07, 2018
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- How DPS is helping California wildfire survivors.
Extra DWI enforcement.
A special one-year anniversary.
And much more — in the latest edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
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- Women in Law Enforcement: Trooper Vanessa Heller
- Date posted
- 7 years ago
- Description
- Empowering.
A very positive experience.
That’s how Trooper Vanessa Heller described her time at the State Patrol’s Women in Law Enforcement Informational Session.
Our next session is Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our Golden Valley district office. This session is for women interested in becoming troopers.
Please RSVP by Friday, Dec. 14 by emailing patrol.recruiter@state.mn.us
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- November 16, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The abrupt start to winter may have left you unprepared. We help make sure you’re ready for winter threats and winter driving — and much more — in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- November 2, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- From Mankato to Grand Marais to Massachusetts, Department of Public Safety staff have been busy helping save lives and offering their expertise to help communities at home and on the east coast recover from disasters.
The latest in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- October 19, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A New Hope police officer shares his story about being hit by a distracted driver.
Five of our Office of Pipeline Safety inspectors will travel to Massachusetts to help 10,000 residents without heat and hot water.
The latest on REAL ID.
All that in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- October 5, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Questions about Real ID? Wondering why your cell phone flashed a presidential alert? Do you have a recalled space heater in your home?
We address all that and more in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- September 7, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A presidential disaster declaration. The latest on REAL ID. Back-to-school safety. All that and more in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Shift into Safety: Friends Want Friends to Drive Smart
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- They feel invincible. They don’t think it will happen to them.
But these Highland Park Senior High School students know safety when they are behind the wheel or a passenger is their top priority when on the road.
Thank you students for spreading the word and encouraging safe teen driving.
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- Travel Reminder: Secure Your Loaded Cargo
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- It’s that time of year when the roads will be full of motorists heading up to the cabin for one last summer blast and college students are packing up, hitting the road for school.
Securing your load as you travel to your destination is a must! Losing objects from your vehicle can cause serious or fatal injuries to innocent drivers behind you.
To help save lives and keep our roads safe, take just a few minutes to watch our latest video on how to properly secure your load and prepare for the road.
- Title
- DWI Confession: Janet's Plea to Plan a Sober Ride
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Janet Carlson considered herself a social drinker. Birthday celebrations. Dinners with friends. Backyard BBQs. Alcohol was served, and she and the people she was with drank without thinking twice.
“There was no plan to drive home. It baffles me. It’s such a simple solution,” Janet says. “Are you willing to take your life and someone else’s life into that equation?”
Three DWIs later, Janet is pleading with people to plan ahead. Her story is a reminder how making a wrong choice can happen to anyone. Remember: Extra DWI enforcement is on Minnesota roads through Sunday.
DPS.MN.GOV
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- August 24, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- More on the statewide 911 outage, the importance of flood insurance and the death of a beloved trooper — all in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- August 10, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A new driver’s license design was unveiled, a 911 outage affected parts of the state, and the statewide speed campaign came to a close since the last edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
Get caught up with what’s going on in this week’s edition.
- Title
- Motorcycle Safety: Expect the Unexpected
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- “Without this helmet I would be dead, there’s no doubt in my mind.”
The words from Geri Katte after taking a nasty spill on I-35W with her motorcycle.
To date, 33 riders have lost their lives on Minnesota roads in 2018 with 25 of those killed not wearing a helmet (76 percent).
Expect the unexpected by always wearing your riding gear, and prepare for the unexpected by taking a riding training course. Learn more at motorcyclesafety.org
As we approach the first weekend of Sturgis, many riders will be making their way to the celebration.
• Don’t follow a motorcyclist too closely.
• Give motorcyclists a full lane .
Watch Geri’s story about the importance of staying safe on the road.
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- July 27, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Severe weather damage assessments. Combating heroin trafficking. Extra speed enforcement recap. Get caught up on all three — and more — in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- DPS Highlights: Minnesota Unveils New Driver's License and ID Card Design
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Minnesotans will see newly designed driver’s licenses and ID cards in the coming weeks as the state transitions from the current cards that were first issued in 2004.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division (DPS-DVS) will begin issuing the newly designed cards for applications or renewals processed on or after August 6.
Minnesotans do not need to obtain a new driver’s license or ID card unless their current card is expiring or they need to change their address or name. The current design and new design will be in circulation for the next four years, and both are valid forms of identification until they expire or are canceled.
NOTE: The newly designed IDs, which will be issued beginning August 6, 2018, are not REAL IDs. Minnesotans will be able to apply for a REAL ID-compliant card in October 2018, but they will have two years to obtain one if they choose. That means Minnesotans will be able to use their...
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- July 13, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Federal disaster assistance request after flooding. Firefighter PTSD and suicide prevention. Reward offered in Hibbing murder case.
Get caught up on what’s going on with all three — and more — in this edition of, “Public Safety: In Focus.”
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- DPS Highlights: Minnesota Trucking Industry Being Trained at BCA to Spot Human Trafficking
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Sex traffickers will often transport their victims from city-to-city or even state-to-state.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) hosted training provided by Truckers Against Trafficking for truckers and truck stop personnel on how to spot trafficking situations and how to respond when they do.
In this video, BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, trucker and trucking company owner Kevin Otto, and Truckers Against Trafficking representative Esther Goetsch talk about law enforcement and the trucking industry joining together to combat human trafficking.
Sex trafficking is a crime that knows no jurisdictional boundaries. Truckers are in a unique position to spot traffickers transporting their victims from one community to another or who are looking to sell sex with the victim to a trucker.
The Truckers Against Trafficking Freedom Drivers Project mobile display -- equipped with videos, artifacts and information about sex traffic...
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- DPS Demonstration: Never Add Water to Grease Fires
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- This demonstration shows how putting water on a grease fire can have an explosive effect that can be deadly, cause severe burns or destroy your home.
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- June 29, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Flooding. Fireworks. Firefighters.
Get caught up on what’s going on with all three — and more — in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- June 15, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Recreational fire safety. Extra seat belt enforcement results. Text-to-911. State disaster assistance approved. It’s all in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
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- Public Safety: In Focus -- May 25, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Extra seat belt enforcement. Severe weather preparation. How you can help solve a central Minnesota campground arson.
It’s all in this edition of, “Public Safety: In Focus.”
dps.mn.gov
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- May 11, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The latest REAL ID updates. How you can help investigators solve arson in Minnesota. Citations from the extra distracted driving enforcement campaign.
It’s all in this edition of “Public Safety: In Focus.”
- Title
- Public Safety: In Focus -- April 27, 2018
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- From traffic safety to preventing sex trafficking to learning about spring flooding, it’s been a busy few weeks for public safety in Minnesota.
Watch this video to learn more in this edition of, “Public Safety: In Focus.”
DPS.MN.GOV
- Title
- A Mother's Mission: Sounding the Alarm on a Silent Killer
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- If you don’t already have a carbon monoxide alarm, Cheryl Burt’s story will make you want to buy one.
Cheryl bought a toy truck for her son instead of a CO alarm. She still has the toy truck — but not her son. The 16-month-old died 22 years ago along with his 4-year-old brother.
Nicholas and Zachary Burt were poisoned in their sleep by carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace.
Cheryl hopes her tragic story and her sons’ deaths are all the reason you need to buy CO alarms for your home and test them monthly.
- Title
- MSP Dashcam: Unsecure Sheet of Plastic Engulfs SUV on Highway 52
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A large piece of heavy duty plastic flew off a dump truck on Wednesday and engulfed this SUV on Highway 52 in Inver Grove Heights.
A Minnesota State Patrol trooper happened to be behind the vehicle and caught the incident on his dashcam.
The driver said he saw what was about to happen and slowed down so he could pull over.
Another reminder why it’s so important to keep your eyes on the road and off of your phone. It’s also important to secure objects in a truck or trailer to avoid a potentially deadly situation.
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- MSP Dashcam: Troopers Help Motorists During Snowstorm
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Minnesota State Patrol troopers across the state put their push bars to use during a January 2018 snowstorm, much to the relief of stranded motorists.
Troopers are trained on how to gently push vehicles out of sticky situations.
Here are some tips so you make it safely home:
• Keep your eyes to the horizon so you can see what’s happening in front of you and have time to react.
• If possible only drive on plowed roads.
• Wear your seat belt.
• Increase your following distance.
• Stay off of your phones and avoid other distractions.
• If you get stuck, stay in your vehicle and call 911.
- Title
- Winter Road Danger: Multiple MSP Squad Cars Hit
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Law enforcement, tow trucks and other emergency vehicles could be assisting motorists who are involved in crashes or become stranded throughout the year.
Always look for flashing lights and move over at least one lane as soon as possible to protect yourself and those working on the side of the road, it’s the law! If you cannot move over, drivers need to slow down.
In this video, hear from four Minnesota State Patrol Troopers whose squad cars were hit over the long New Year's holiday weekend.
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- Be Road Ready: Prep Your Car for the Cold
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In this video, Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Robert Zak walks you through steps to prepare your car for winter weather driving.
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- DPS TV Spot: What's Your Sober Game Plan? (30)
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- To remind motorists to line up a sober ride, the Department of Public Safety teamed up with volunteer actors to spread awareness about the dangers of driving impaired and the importance of planning ahead.
The message is simple: before watching the big game or heading out to enjoy an evening that may include alcohol, plan ahead and line up a sober ride.
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- DPS Highlights: Minnesota Deploys Text-to-911 Service Statewide
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- When an emergency takes place, our first instinct is to call 911. But now there is a whole new way for Minnesotans to get help. After three years of diligent work with various stakeholders, the Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Communication Networks (DPS-ECN) division is announcing the statewide availability of Text-to-911.
The new service is now available with the motto: "Call if you can, text if you can't." Text-to-911 is an alternative option to calling in an emergency.
Text-to-911 offers new benefits for Minnesotans who have some form of hearing loss and have had to depend on indirect ways to reach 911. Once deployed, individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use Text-to-911 as a first contact option.
911 dispatchers extensively trained and tested this new system. Representatives will explain how to get help in the quickest way possible while using Text-to-911.
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- DPS Highlights: Families of Drunk Driving Victims Speak Up about Sober Rides
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Unwrapped gifts for the holidays. An empty chair left for a loved one missing from the family dinner table. These are the realities for families who have lost a loved one to drunk driving.
To stress the importance of lining up a sober ride, Hitesh Patel and Sgt. Catherine Michal joined the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety to kick off the holiday extra DWI enforcement campaign beginning Nov. 22 and running on weekends through Dec. 30.
Hitesh lost his niece, Ria, who was the passenger in a single vehicle fatal crash in September. According to the criminal complaint, the suspect admitted to drinking before driving and a witness described the driver as “super drunk.”
In 2006, Sgt. Michal’s daughter, Deanna, was killed by a drunk driver. She was just 16-years-old.
For both families, the holidays will never be the same. Sgt. Michal and Hitesh spoke out on how their families have forever changed becau...
- Title
- DPS Highlights: Mother Reunites with Her Newborn Daughter's Heroes
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- A Twin Cities mother says her daughter would not be alive today if not for the heroic actions of a good Samaritan and a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety held a media availability where Kristin Lonsbury thanked Lt. Paul Stricker and good Samaritan Virginia Marsh. The trio talked about the life-saving efforts performed on Lonsbury’s daughter.
On Sept. 14, Lonsbury was driving on Interstate 394 near Theodore Wirth Parkway when she noticed her then 6-week-old daughter Elise was choking. Lt. Stricker and Marsh both stopped to help, playing key roles in saving Elise’s life.
Both Lt. Stricker and Marsh have been nominated for a State Patrol life-saving award.
- Title
- Distracted Drivers: Putting First Responders at Risk
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- Distracted driving puts first responders at risk and, in some cases, prevents them from saving lives.
Following a crash Aug. 8 between a fire truck and a suspected distracted driver, the State Patrol and Edina Fire Department teamed up to remind motorists the consequences of distracted driving.
- Title
- BEHIND THE WHEEL: Teen Driver Safety 101
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- It takes a commitment by parents and many hours to prepare teen drivers to get behind the wheel. But that doesn’t end when a teen gets their license.
A common mistake by parents is thinking their teen is ready for the road as soon as they pass the road test.
In this video, Gordy Pehrson, a teen driving expert with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, walks parents and teens through some tips on how you can help your teen driver be better behind the wheel.
- Title
- DPS Highlights: Drivers Failing to Stop for School Buses Risking Student's Lives
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety released the disturbing video this morning that showed a motorist who fails to stop for a school bus. Thankfully, the bus driver’s quick actions alerted the girl to the passing vehicle, helping the Rosemount sixth grader avoid injury or possible death.
The girl’s parents, Joyce and Les Rhoades, was available Monday afternoon to speak about the incident and to send a message to other motorists about the importance of always stopping for school buses.
Motorists failing to stop for school buses continues to be a serious issue that risks children’s lives. State law requires vehicles to stop for school buses when the bus driver activates the flashing lights and has the crossing arm fully extended. As of Aug. 1, drivers who violate that law will face a larger fine as citations increased from $300 to $500 this year for stop arm violations.
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- MSP Video: State Patrol Helps Find Missing Two-Year-Old Boy in Stearns County
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- A 2-year-old rural Stearns County boy is safe thanks to the efforts of the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, several fire departments and the Minnesota State Patrol.
The boy walked away from his home near Cold Spring Thursday evening.
After hours of searching, a State Patrol pilot located the boy and his dog by using the helicopter’s camera that picks up on heat signatures.
The pilot directed ground searchers to the boy’s location where they found him and his dog safe and sound.
Following the rescue, officials learned the family dog found the boy and stayed with him until help arrived.
The Chain of Lakes Fire Department, Richmond Fire and Rescue, and St. Martin Rescue also assisted in the search.
- Title
- MSP Video: Hunter Rescued in Pine County, Minnesota
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- Title
- Child Passenger Safety: Protect Your Kids from Air Bag Injuries
- Date posted
- 9 years ago
- Description
- Keeping children safe in a vehicle changes as they grow up and grow out of car seats and booster seats and are ready for a seat belt. But where children sit in the vehicle still matters to avoid serious injuries or death.
Due to the force of an airbag when it deploys, children should not sit in the front seat until the age of 13.
The best way to protect a child from serious injury or death in a car crash is to make sure they are properly restrained and in the correct restraint for their weight, height and age.
Putting safety over convenience in a vehicle will help parents protect their children.
For more information go to: Buckleupkids.mn.gov
