More police, cameras at the Minnesota State Fair in 2024
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There’ll be more law enforcement and security cameras at the Minnesota State Fair this year.
The State Fair Police Department is now 185 strong, up from 170 last year and 130 in 2022. Those officers work for other police departments, but are hired to patrol the fairgrounds during the Great Minnesota Get Together. Another hundred or so officers from local, state and federal agencies — like the Hennepin and Ramsey County sheriff’s offices and the State Patrol — will also be working the fair.
Not changing from last year are rules around recreational marijuana. Even though it’s legal in Minnesota, cannabis of any kind is not allowed at the fairgrounds.
State Fair Police Chief Ron Knafla told MPR News he’s confident in this year’s public safety plan, which includes those extra officers and cameras, plus improved fencing and more vehicle barriers, will help make the fair a safe place for everyone. But the lingering question mark is whether Gov. Tim Walz — and Democratic vice presidential nominee — will make an appearance.
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“We don’t know what to expect, and we certainly won’t, until we get notified by the Secret Service,” Knafla said. “If we get the announcement that the governor is going to come to the fair, then we will work with the Minnesota State Patrol and the Secret Service to coordinate that, and, you know, come up with a plan to make that happen.”
The Secret Service is among the Fair’s public safety partners who meet several times in the months leading up to the fair to discuss what went well in prior years and reassess security strategies. In 2024, officers from 65 different departments will comprise the fair police.
This is Knafla’s 36th year working for the Fair’s police department and his third as chief, and he said he loves how law enforcement agencies unify and network during the event.
“One of the unique things about the fair is that they all wear their, for the most part, their home agency uniform. So if you come down here from Hermantown, you might see a Hermantown uniform walking around the fairgrounds, or Thief River Falls, whatever it may be,” Knafla said. “It’s special for us, but I know a lot of the folks that attend the fair like to look for their hometown cops, and some of them make a game out of it and try and try and find their local officers.”
Fairgoers should expect to walk through a metal detector at the entry gate. Bags, backpacks, purses and coolers are allowed, but subject to search. Weapons, fireworks, outside alcoholic beverages and pets are among the things you can’t bring to the fair. The State Fair follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for COVID-19.
The Fair opens Thursday and runs through Labor Day.