Maroon uniforms and traditional State Trooper hats will soon be seen in North Minneapolis under an agreement between the Minnesota State Patrol and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan announced today that from this Friday through Labor Day, six state troopers will be assigned to the Fourth Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department. These troopers will be in addition to the troopers that have been assisting Minneapolis law enforcement in Downtown Minneapolis since this spring.

“Families should feel safe to live, play, work and visit every neighborhood in Minneapolis,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Public safety is the first job of government and we are committed to helping Minneapolis battle violent crime. These troopers will have a positive impact on public safety in North Minneapolis.”

The state troopers will patrol the North Side Thursday through Sunday from late afternoon through the early morning hours. Each trooper will be paired with a Minneapolis police officer.

The troopers assigned will be drawn from districts across the state, though they will have knowledge of the Minneapolis area or experience working previous Minneapolis police details.

The new trooper assignment will run through Labor Day, but will be regularly evaluated and adjustments to the plan will be considered should conditions change. The estimated cost is approximately $100,000 which will come from a Minnesota Department of Public Safety forfeiture account.

Governor Pawlenty previously offered, and the City of Minneapolis accepted, state troopers to aid in other patrol efforts that will continue through the summer. The 2006 legislature approved $1.5 million for additional officers to help the Minneapolis Police Department as part of the supplemental budget bill.

The Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the State Patrol, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Minneapolis Police Department, and Metro Transit Police have also pledged to continue working together to increase and coordinate law enforcement efforts in Minneapolis.