Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson has been called many things over the years: officer, detective, chief, director of public safety and now commissioner.

His favorite name is “Papa Bob," which is what his nine grandchildren call him.

Jacobson was sworn in Jan. 3 as the new commissioner of DPS after he was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz​. His dedication to his family – and all Minnesotans – is why he came out of retirement to return to public service. That passion drives him to make Minnesota better and safer for everyone, including his grandchildren.

“Minnesota has an appreciation for the spirit of the community. We have really strong, diverse communities who are welcoming and want to work together," said Jacobson. “We've had some difficulties, but we've doubled down, worked harder and had success."

Our new commissioner spent 33 years in law enforcement, beginning as a patrol officer in New Brighton, where he worked until his retirement in 2016. He came out of retirement three times since then, serving in interim positions in the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Stillwater Police Department.

Jacobson's father was a teacher who instilled in him the value of public service and helping those in need. Those values are what drew Jacobson to DPS.

DPS serves all communities to keep Minnesota safe. We have a diverse workforce that specializes in all aspects of public safety: prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, enforcement and education. We engage with community and government partners to promote safety, service and justice.

The key for Jacobson is understanding that public safety is a lot more than law enforcement and making arrests. It's working together with the people who live, work and play in Minnesota to keep everyone safe.

While Jacobson was the director of public safety in New Brighton, his department received two International Association of Chiefs of Police Community Policing Awards and the city experienced historically low levels of crime. Jacobson says the two accomplishments go hand-in-hand. The department developed a holistic approach to making the community safe.

“We're part of the community. It means working on the real problems that are causing crime. Dig a little deeper and find out how to address problems before it becomes a criminal issue," Jacobson said.

Jacobson didn't accept the commissioner position because it's the next step on his career path. He accepted because it is something he was passionate about.

“I still feel like I have something to give, and I really want to make a difference for all Minnesotans," Jacobson said.​