Ask a Trooper

By Jesse Grabow

Question: With back to school starting, can you talk about school patrol safety?

Answer: When you see a student safety patrol helping children cross a street or highway, you must come to a complete stop. You must also stop for adult crossing guards displaying a stop sign or flag. It is illegal to drive through a line of children crossing the road, even if a school safety patrol is not present. Violating this law is a misdemeanor. A second violation within a year is a gross misdemeanor. 

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Question: I heard the Minnesota State Patrol got a new design for your patches and squad cars. Can you talk about that?

Answer: You are correct. For the first time in more than 50 years, the Minnesota State Patrol has a new look.

Last year when the Minnesota Legislature approved a replacement design for the Minnesota seal and flag, State Patrol leaders took note. “That decision presented us with a unique opportunity to create something different to represent our division and culture within the State Patrol and its staff throughout the state,” said Col. Christina Bogojevic, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol.

A working group made up of 13 sworn and non-sworn members of the State Patrol worked for four months with a design agency to come up with and refine the new design. “We wanted something that represented the strong history and legacy of our division, something that is identifiable with the state of Minnesota, all while giving it a more modern update. The redesign was an opportunity for us to create something highlighting our pride in serving Minnesota,” said Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger, who led the group.

The new look — with heavy ties to symbolism — reflects the values and history of the State Patrol. The North Star — a four-pointed star and the same one used on the redesigned state seal — represents the cardinal directions, just as we serve Minnesotans to the north, south, east and west. The Mississippi River, abundant in its contribution to our state and serving as a critical artery for transportation, lends itself to our role of maintaining and securing an efficient transportation network and connecting with others. The Norway pines, the state tree of Minnesota, underscore the steadfast and reliable commitment of the State Patrol, working for Minnesotans 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through all seasons, all year long.

The new look for the State Patrol isn’t just a redesigned patch on our troopers’ shoulders. It includes badges, hats, squads, license plates, buttons on uniforms, signage and so much more. In fact, there are more than 188,000 pieces of equipment that will need to be updated with the new design. State Patrol leadership is prioritizing updates on squad cars and uniforms, and being diligent about updating items where they were already scheduled to be replaced. To complete the whole process will take somewhere from six to nine months and an estimated $4 million.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205.  (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).