Latest news with #PaulElmstrand
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
Minnesota fallen officers among those honored during National Police Week memorial service
Several Minnesota police officers killed in the line of duty will be remembered during a memorial service in Washington D.C. Thursday morning. The memorial service is part of the National Police Week, an event which brings law enforcement and families together to pay homage to those killed. This year, roughly 350 fallen police officers will be memorialized. Minnesota officers include Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, who were shot and killed in February 2024 along with firefighter paramedic Adam Finseth. Other Minnesota officers being remembered include Jesse Branch, of Red Lake Nation Police; National Park Service Ranger Kevin Grossheim; and Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell. How to watch What: A memorial service honoring the officers who were killed in the line of duty. A memorial service honoring the officers who were killed in the line of duty. When: 11 a.m. CT 11 a.m. CT Where: Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. How to watch: You can watch the memorial service live in the player above, on CBS News Minnesota or on Pluto TV. The 101 Market and Garden Center raised funds to help send the families of Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth — as well as the entire Burnsville Police Department — to Washington, D.C. to attend the memorial. The officers' names were read aloud during a candlelight vigil Tuesday on the National Mall. "It is just a really powerful and moving thing, and you could see the emotion in people's eyes," Burnsville Police Dep. Chief Matt Smith told WCCO News. "We've been waiting a long time for this week and this event to honor Matt and Paul and Adam." Finseth was honored in early May as part of National Firefighter Memorial Weekend. This story will be updated.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fallen Burnsville, Minneapolis officers to be recognized at national law enforcement memorial
The names of three Minnesota police officers killed in the line of duty last year have been engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. and they'll be remembered in ceremonies this week. Burnsville Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matt Ruge were fatally shot by a suspect during a standoff, while multiple children were in the home, in February 2024. Burnsville Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth also lost his life in the incident. In Minneapolis, Officer Jamal Mitchell was shot in killed last May. More than 160 Burnsville officers and family members traveled to D.C. 'with generous donations' from Burnsville residents, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Burnsville Police and Fire Foundations and donors across the country, according to a statement from Burnsville police. 'Paul and Matt were incredible police officers who worked tirelessly to keep our community safe,' Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said in a statement. 'They were dedicated officers, teammates and friends to everyone who served alongside them. They saved the lives of seven children that tragic day and their sacrifices will never be forgotten, their lives will always be remembered, and their spirit will live on in our department and our community.' Surrounding police departments are working in Burnsville for officers while they're attending the memorial. Allowing Burnsville officers to gather 'as part of a larger police family is an important part of grieving, healing, and remembering,' Schwartz said. Mitchell, Ruge and Elmstrand are among 148 officers who died in the line of duty in 2024 and whose names were added to the memorial, along with 197 names from previous years. They are being recognized during National Police Week. In D.C., there will be a candlelight vigil at the memorial at 7 p.m. CST Tuesday. Livestreaming links can be found at In Minnesota, the St. Paul Police Department will hold its annual Memorial Day service at noon Wednesday; it's usually held in Mears Park but will be at the Minnesota Peace Officers Memorial on the state Capitol grounds this year. Also at the state memorial site, the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association will host its annual service at 7 p.m. Thursday. Finseth was memorialized at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Maryland on May 3 and May 4, and his name was unveiled at the memorial there. MN moves to strengthen DWI laws after fatal St. Louis Park crash Battle of the Badges to benefit Cottage Grove-area charities Trump nominates Daniel Rosen as next U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Florida man gored by bison in year's first attack by Yellowstone's most dangerous wild animal Burnsville police ask for public's help after man found dead in park
CBS News
17-04-2025
- CBS News
Burnsville Police Department to travel to Washington D.C. as part of National Police Week, thanks to tulip fundraiser
Market 101 and Garden Center is roughly 50 miles from Burnsville, but managers say the 2024 shooting death of three first responders is a tragedy that strikes the heart. "I have a couple of police officers in my family, one of them retired in Colorado and the other is in Lakeville," manager Pat Beruske told WCCO News. "When this happened last year, I was concerned for his welfare." Burnsville police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, along with firefighter paramedic Adam Finseth, were shot and killed in February 2024 . A few months later, Market 101 raised roughly $76,000 to benefit the grieving families through a special tulip sale. This year, the sale returned, and the store this week handed over a $12,000 check to help send those families — and the entire Burnsville Police Department — to Washington, D.C. for National Police Week. "It's finishing the circle," Beruske explained. "We helped them in their time of need, the tragedy, last year. Now it's a full circle moment. We're going to give them money to go to Maryland and Washington to try to heal, and get their closure." Elmstrand and Ruge are two among 345 fallen police officers who will be memorialized this year in D.C. next month; other Minnesota officers being remembered include Jesse Branch, of Red Lake Nation Police ; National Park Service Ranger Kevin Grossheim ; and Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell . Kevin Rofidal, a retired Edina police sergeant who now sits on the Fraternal Order of Police Foundation board, told WCCO News the trip to D.C. will be a full itinerary that includes much more than a memorial service and vigil. "The second piece of it is there is some therapeutics and being around families and other survivors that have experienced something similar," he added. "We've learned a lot. We've learned a lot because of suicides in police, with survivors and PTSD, and it's finally being addressed." There are several ongoing fundraisers for Burnsville , as Rofidal says the cost to send its 166-member delegation will cost roughly $75,000. The Minneapolis Police Department and its supporters are also raising money to send a large delegation .
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.
