Minnesota National Guard increases support to Operation Safety Net

April 12, 2021 (ST. PAUL, Minnesota) – The Minnesota National Guard is increasing its presence in the Twin Cities metro area in support of Operation Safety Net. 

Overnight Sunday, the Minnesota National Guard was asked to support the city of Brooklyn Center with approximately 100 Minnesota National Guard members who helped bolster site security and maintain peace following the officer-involved shooting earlier Sunday afternoon. The Minnesota National Guard is in the process of activating and staging additional personnel should they be needed to ensure security in metro communities.

“We are committed to meeting the intent of Operation Safety Net to protect the communities and people of Minnesota while preserving the constitutional right to the peaceful expressions of first amendment rights,” said Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General. 

As of this morning, the Minnesota National Guard had approximately 500 personnel assigned to support Operation Safety Net efforts around the metro area, predominately in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park and St. Paul. We anticipate this number to grow to more than 1,000 by tonight and continue to grow in the coming days.

Additional Guardsmen will be located in staging areas until they are assigned to specific missions and shift rotations based on the conditions and needs on the ground. The Minnesota National Guard continues to work closely with local and state agencies in Operation Safety Net as a member of the unified command.

For more information, contact the Minnesota National Guard public affairs office at 651-282-4410 or mn.ng.web@mail.mil.

– About the Minnesota National Guard – Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than 13,000 soldiers and airmen who serve in 61 communities across the state. The citizen-soldiers and airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies and contribute to local communities. For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.