Senate Republicans passed a bill Thursday, May 13 to increase the pay of state troopers, state conservation officers, and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents, gambling enforcement special agents and insurance fraud specialists.
While awaiting a salary study in 2020, the Legislature passed temporary pay raises to troopers. After the study, results showed troopers were paid about 5% less than other law enforcement officers, in some cases up to 16% for senior officers, according to Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, who supported the raises.
“It’s long past due that we support Minnesota’s law enforcement officers,” Ingebrigtsen said in a news release. “Over the past few years, our officers have been neglected, have been forced to work without a contract, and it has gotten so out of line that Minnesota officers are now making significantly less compared to those doing a similar job. It’s time to put these folks back on equal footing and support the men and women who work tirelessly every day to protect our communities and us.”
“After the year our law enforcement officers have had, It’s important to recognize them for their work,” Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said. “State troopers kept the entire state safe, but especially here at the Capitol, their presence was often a comfort.”
Members of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association impacted by this include the Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, Department of Corrects fugitive specialists, Department of Public Safety state patrol troopers, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents, gambling enforcement special agents and Department of Commerce insurance fraud specialists. Officers across the MLEA would receive raises in line with their positions.
