Mike Asleson's career with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is a testament to nearly half a century of unwavering commitment to public safety. It began in 1977, a year when the radio waves belonged to the Bee Gees and gas was a mere 65 cents a gallon. Asleson, then an 18-year-old, was the youngest trooper ever hired by the Minnesota State Patrol, according to a recent tribute on the Department of Public Safety's website.
Asleson's journey started even earlier, at 16, when he joined the New Ulm Police Department as a civilian dispatcher. According to the DPS website, his initial years at the Minneapolis Station were intense, marked by overnight shifts and dangerous encounters, the most notable being "the fight of my life" – a struggle with a violent offender that brought him to the edge of life and death. Reflecting on the experience, Asleson recounted the moment his gun clinked onto the pavement and how the quick response of his fellow officers saved him. "I heard my gun come out of its holster. Clink, clink, clink on the pavement of I 35-W," Asleson told the Department of Public Safety.
After 35 years with the State Patrol, Asleson ascended the ranks, playing a pivotal role in enhancing Minnesota's DWI laws, including its .08 law and felony DWI statute. His hands-on work in crafting these laws not only demonstrated his leadership but also his dedication to public health. Recognizing his long-term impact, he admitted, “I was always treated fairly. I had great partners, mentors and leaders. I couldn’t have asked for better.”
Retirement from the State Patrol in 2012 was not the end for Asleson. He embarked on a second career at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's eCharging project, which transformed Minnesota's handling of DWI cases from paper forms to a fully digital system, significantly improving the efficiency of processing such cases. He personally trained over 12,000 law enforcement officers, ensuring they were proficient with the new technology. Office of Traffic Safety Law Enforcement Liaison Scott McConkey acknowledged Asleson's unique approach, saying, "He brought both professionalism and humor to his work — sending late-night notes that made us laugh on the hardest days."
With a career spanning 48 years and having served under seven governors and fourteen DPS commissioners, Asleson has been a cornerstone in Minnesota's public safety narrative. His story is replete with the numbers that quantify his service, but as he reflected in his interview, it is his family and the people he served that stand at the forefront of his legacy. "I could never thank my wife and kids enough," he said. "They made sacrifices so I could serve. This career was possible because of them." As Asleson hangs his hat for the last time, his contribution to Minnesota's public safety will be enduringly felt.
