Minneapolis To Pay State Patrol To Help Battle Crime This Summer

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota State Patrol has agreed to help the city of Minneapolis battle violent crime in Minneapolis this summer. The city will reimburse the state agency up to $400,000 for all expenses related to the extra patrols, based on an hourly rate.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will also provide the city support with investigations and will receive $300,000 from the city. The city signed separate agreements with the two agencies in April, and both are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023.

Minneapolis is seeing a sharp rise in violent crime while its police department deals with an "unprecedented" shortage of officers and investigators, officials said.

Mayor Jacob Frey and the city's interim police chief, Amelia Huffman, asked the state for assistance ahead of the summer, when crime tends to spike.

"The Minneapolis Police Department has requested that we help by providing high visibility patrols in designated areas in Minneapolis," said State Patrol Chief Colonel Matt Langer.

"We will provide additional patrols three days a week in areas specified by the City of Minneapolis."

Starting Thursday, the State Patrol will assign four troopers in two squad cars to conduct high visibility patrols in high-crime parts of the city.

"Now is the time, before summer is underway, to bolster public safety resources in our city," Frey said.

"Our collective work aligning MPD, State Patrol, and BCA personnel will help improve safety outcomes rightfully expected by residents and visitors in Minneapolis. I’m grateful to Governor Walz for his support in coordinating a joint powers agreement to keep people in our city safe."

The State Patrol will also step up enforcement against street racing this summer across the Twin Cities metro.