Minnesota Saint Paul, in east-central Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River, has been Minnesota's capital city since 1849, first as capital of the Territory of Minnesota, and then as the state capital since 1858. Saint Paul is adjacent to Minnesota's most populous city, Minneapolis; they and their suburbs are known collectively as the Twin Cities metropolitan area, the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, and home to about 54 percent of the state's population. The remainder of the state is known as "Greater Minnesota" or pejoratively "Outstate Minnesota". The state has 17 cities with populations above 50,000 (as
Minnesota State Patrol to the "Minnesota State Patrol." Troopers are issued the Glock 22 Gen 4 .40 S&W sidearm and have Safariland 6360 Level 3 holsters. The patch worn by members of the Minnesota State Patrol evolved from "The Great Seal" which is placed on all official state documents. Since the establishment of the Minnesota State Patrol, eight officers have died while on duty. Minnesota State Patrol The Minnesota State Patrol is the statewide police force in the state of Minnesota. While the State Patrol concentrates primarily on traffic enforcement and highway safety it also has a statewide law enforcement role. Troopers are