Gov. Larry Rhoden announced an expansion of the South Dakota Highway Patrol in the Sioux Falls area.
The money for the new nine-member team comes from the State Highway Fund.
Gov. Rhoden said the squad is long overdue.
The Sioux Falls Police Department has added 50 positions in the last 15 years. Meanwhile, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office has nearly doubled, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has more than doubled. But the Highway Patrol in Sioux Falls hasn’t added personnel in 25 years.
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken lauded the expansion.
"As Sioux Falls and our surrounding communities continue to grow, collaborative investments in public safety must grow with it," TenHaken said.