Latest news with #MatthewRuge
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dakota Co. charity event honoring six first responders killed in line of duty
The Brief Ballin' in Dakota County Charity Basketball Tournament's 13th event is coming up on April 19th. Honoring six Minnesota first responders who died in the line of duty, the largest in the event's history. Teams participating have grown by about 5 times since first tournament. HASTINGS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Ballin' in Dakota County Charity Basketball Tournamentwill be played in April to honor six Minnesota heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024. It is the most in the state in a single year since the event has been keeping track. The backstory A charity basketball tournament in Dakota County started over a decade ago to honor one fallen deputy sheriff with four teams participating. Now in its 13th year, organizers said it will be a record-breaking year for them – in many ways. The names of six fallen first responders will be added to the traveling trophy and police officer Paul Elmstrand, Burnsville police officer Matthew Ruge, and Burnsville firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth were killed in the line of duty last officer Jamal Mitchell was killed in the line of duty in Park Service Ranger Kevin Grossheim was killed in the line of duty in Red Lake Nation tribal officer Jesse Branch was killed in the line of duty in November. The event, coming up in April, is also expected to break a positive record of its own. Roughly 20 teams will be competing, and more than 60 agencies from across the Midwest will be represented, showing up in solidarity. What they're saying All proceeds from the event will go to the Minnesota chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) to continue supporting families of fallen heroes. "We need to be able to support those that are left behind because they are a part of our family, too. Our work family," said Joe Leko, Dakota County Sheriff. "We care deeply for each other, and we support each other and that's what this is all about. To show that we are strong together despite these losses." Leko said it was a day filled with mixed emotions. The competition on the basketball court is fierce, friendly, but fun as well. What you can do It is free for the public to watch and cheer. It will be held at Burnsville High School. Concessions and donated raffles will help raise money for the charity. Learn more about the event here.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Fundraiser for Burnsville first responders begins to send families to D.C.
The Brief The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police started a GoFundMe campaign for the families and colleagues of Burnsville police officers Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge and firefighter paramedic Adam Finseth to go to Washington D.C. for National Peace Officer Memorial Day in May. The organization has raised about $44,000 of its $100,000 goal to pay for airfare and hotels for the first responders' loved ones and co-workers to attend a memorial ceremony at the U.S. Capitol., where the first responders' names will be read, and they will receive posthumous Medals of Valor. OTSEGO, Minn. (FOX 9) - At 101 Market in Otsego, tulips are in full bloom and employees are using flower power to help the loved ones of fallen first responders' on the other side of the metro for the second year in a row. What we know "It's important to me just because I have people in the police organization, and it was just something that I felt we needed to do," said 101 Market cashier Pat Brueske. The backstory The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police is not only hoping to help the first responders' loved ones get to the nation's capital, but also the entire Burnsville Police Department, which has coordinated with neighboring departments to cover their calls while they are gone. "The two things that I think all officers and firefighters want to know are that their family can be taken care of, and they not be forgotten and this is a chance for both. They're kind of a tight-knit family, and they're going out as a family and honoring these heroes and then returning together," said Kevin Rofidol from the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police. What they're saying Last year, 101 Market raised more than $76,000 dollars by selling tulips to give to the first responders' grieving families. They hope donating the profits from this year's tulip fundraiser that ended last week to the GoFundMe will help the entire community. "It was tragic. I mean that's not something that we want to see. So hopefully we can all heal," said Brueske. If you'd like more information about the GoFundMe to help the families and coworkers of the Burnsville first responders get to DC, click here.
