Dakota Times

Sen. Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) is an advocate for Minnesota State Troopers, requesting that the hardest working men in law enforcement deserve to be paid as much as other law enforcement officers in the state.

Once the highest-paid officers in the state, Minnesota Troopers' pay ranks 26th on the list.

Howe said that troopers play a critical role in the state. They rescue stranded motorists during storms, deliver PPE and other medical equipment across the state in the wake of COVID-19, and most recently guarded and protected the Twin Cities when riots broke out.

"They worked side-by-side with officers from all over the Metro, despite some of those officers getting paid almost $20,000 a year more," Howe said, according to Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.

The fault lies with the governors' administrations, Howe said. During neither the Dayton or Walz administration did troopers' pay keep pace with that of other law enforcement agencies. The common denominator in both administrations is Commissioner Myron Franz of Management and Budget, and Commissioner Harrington of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

"Myron Franz, who takes orders from Gov. Walz, has failed to support our troopers with pay increases proportionate to other agencies during his time as commissioner," Howe said. "Commissioner Harrington oversees department staff, programming and initiatives. He should have fought harder to ensure the troopers received the adequate raise they deserved."

Howe said he has been working in the legislature to get pay increases for troopers for more than two years and has only run into roadblocks from Franz and the Walz administration.