Gov. Rhoden wants heavier Highway Patrol presence in Sioux Falls

Legislature will be asked to authorize new funding for more South Dakota troopers

Get ready to see more state troopers patrolling roadways in the Sioux Falls area.

Gov. Larry Rhoden will ask the state Legislature to approve a $2.4 million funding request to support the first expansion of the Highway Patrol’s Sioux Falls squad in a quarter-century.

“As governor of South Dakota, it is my duty to protect the people of this great state. This new squad is long overdue, and I am confident that it will lead to a brighter future,” Rhoden said Friday during a press conference held jointly with Sioux Falls-area public safety, county, and city officials at the Sioux Falls Public Safety Campus. He called on lawmakers to support funding for an additional eight state troopers and a sergeant.

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Rhoden said the need for more state troopers at the Sioux Falls Highway Patrol headquarters is clear. The Republican governor noted that since the last squad expansion 25 years ago, the city’s population has grown by 70 percent. What’s more, he said, in the last 15 years, the Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office have all expanded their forces, while the Highway Patrol’s presence in the area has remained static.

In the last 15 years, vehicle miles traveled in the city have increased by 500 million, Rhoden said while flanked by South Dakota Highway Patrol Casey Collins, Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar, Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson, Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum, and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken.

Thum and TenHaken both spoke at length about the collaborative relationship the city’s police force has long had with the Highway Patrol, and they said the additional troopers will help as the city continues to expand and adapt to its booming population and border expansions.

“We greatly appreciate Governor Rhoden’s partnership and the state’s continued commitment to prioritize these investments to keep our communities safe and thriving,” TenHaken said. “As Sioux Falls and our surrounding communities continue to grow, collaborative investments in public safety must grow with it.”

The $2.4 million budget request, which would use state highway funds, includes $1 million in one-time money to cover the cost of new patrol cars, uniforms, tools, and other infrastructure needed to equip the Highway Patrol’s new officers. Ongoing operational costs will be $1.4 million if the funding request is approved.