Everyday Heroes: Minnesota State Patrol [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD -- All law enforcement follow one simple code--serve and protect. Whether that's the local Police and Sheriff agencies or the Minnesota State Patrol.

Created back in 1929, the Minnesota State Patrol was looked as a way to help limit the

number of crashes that were happening. Making the State Patrol responsible for highway safety.

"We focus primarily on what's going on, on our state roads, our state highways, our interstates, our trunk highways those types of things," says Sgt Jesse Grabow, a Minnesota State Trooper for 15 years.

After Troopers go through the proper academy training, followed by a three month shadow period with a veteran Trooper, they are then assigned to a district and in charge of patrolling that district constantly monitoring and looking for any traffic violations that may occur on the highways.

"Some of the violations we typically look for are speed violations, distracted driving, seat belt violations, even equipment violations such as a head light out," says Sgt Grabow.

Troopers are always on call when patrolling the highways. When a call is placed out on the radio, they listen for the severity of the call and if they are needed to help.

Depending on the nature of the each circumstance, affects on how Troopers responds (how fast they drive or the use of lights and sirens).

But just because they drive emergency vehicles, doesn't exclude Troopers from being cautious when heading to a crash scene.

"We still need to be responsible for our actions and always use due care for the people we're serving and providing services for," Sgt Grabow says.

Now most people believe that all law enforcement just want to hand out tickets, and while handing out tickets is part of the job Sgt Grabow says that their job goes beyond writing tickets.

"It's all about traffic safety and keeping people informed, and if we can educate people about traffic safety, we have done our job."

“Everyday Heroes” is a weekly WJON News feature spotlighting those who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.