St. Paul, MN -- Governor Mark Dayton today announced the appointment of Ramona L. Dohman, Chief of Police of Maple Grove and immediate past President of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, as Commissioner of Public Safety.

The Department of Public Safety is responsible for protecting Minnesota's citizens and communities through law enforcement and emergency management. The Department is also responsible for driver licensing and vehicle registration, fire and traffic safety, and alcohol and gambling enforcement.

Chief Dohman has almost 30 years of experience in law enforcement, having served in police departments in both the metro area and greater Minnesota. Appointed Chair of the Police Officer Standards and Training Board by Governor Pawlenty in 2010, Dohman has worked with the legislative and executive branches to implement policies designed to improve and expand the role of law enforcement across a broad spectrum of issues including advocating for victim's rights and critical federal funding.

Chief Dohman brings a long commitment and proven dedication to law enforcement, which have prepared her well to ensure the public safety and to lead my Administration's response to emergency situations.

It is an honor to be chosen by Governor Dayton to lead this important agency, said Chief Dohman. Governor Dayton knows that protecting the public is the most important function of government, and I look forward to working with him to ensure that every Minnesotan can live safely and without fear.

Chief Dohman will be the first female Commissioner of Public Safety in Minnesota history.

Chief Dohman has worked in Maple Grove's Police Department since 1984, first as an investigator and patrol officer before being promoted to Chief in 2001. She previously served as a patrol officer in Glencoe, and later in Marshall, MN. She holds an MA in Police Leadership, Administration and Education from the University of St. Thomas, a BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Metro State University, and an AA in Law Enforcement from Alexandria Technical College. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. She lives in Maple Grove with her husband, St. Louis Park Police Sergeant Ward Dohman, and their three children.