Pre-emptive strike leads to “safest fair in three years”

The preparation

Leading up to the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, public safety authorities took a unique, pro-active stance to blunt potential gang violence that had marred portions of the fair in previous years. I wrote about this promising policy approach here.

Working together, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Fair Police Department, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office used the “Minnesota civil gang nuisance law”  to pro-actively put members of two gangs on notice that there would be a zero-tolerance stance for any gang presence or activity at this year’s fair.

The effort included a civil suit that formally named 10 gang members from two Somali gangs which had been threatening conflict at the fair on social media sites. In addition, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office sent out 233 letters to known gang members and associates, putting them on notice of the zero-tolerance stance.

Coupled with those efforts was an increased physical law enforcement presence, especially in and around the Midway, and the addition of a non-profit youth mentorship group that focused attention on youth attending the fair.

Success

By all accounts, the combined effort was a success, leading Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher to characterize the 2026 fair as the “safest fair in three years.”  

“There was very little conflict. We did have a handful of arrests, but most of the gang members did not show up.”

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher 

The chief of the Minnesota State Fair Police Department concurred.

“Our No. 1 priority is to create a safe and secure environment for everyone who attends the Minnesota State Fair, and we did just that this year. I am grateful for partnerships with more than 20 local, state and federal agencies whose expertise and support provided us with a multitude of resources that strengthened every aspect of our public safety operation.”

State Fair Police Chief Ron Knafla

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi added his perspective.

“I do think this kind of proactive, focused deterrence effort — which I would characterize the injunctions as — are a tool in the toolbox that people should be thinking about, not only for the State Fair, but for other community events that are critically important to the community.” 

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi

There were some social media reports that indicated “mobs” of Somali youth attempting to rush the state fair gates or jump the fences in the evening of the last day of the fair, though there has been little official confirmation of any significant disturbance. Video shared on Crime Watch Twin Cities showed a few people running along a fence line and quotes from fair goers confirming the rush at 6 pm on the final day of the fair when the gates closed early.

The takeaway

Solid planning and execution of proactive measures led to a relatively safe and secure Minnesota State Fair in 2026.

As I mentioned in my introductory article on the effort,

“We are fortunate to have imaginative and engaged law enforcement officers who pride themselves on keeping one step ahead of offenders. It’s a must.”

Thankfully for the “Great Minnesota Get Together,” those comments aged well.