Duluth hosts event worthy of fallen officers across state

National Police week concluded on May 16. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the traditional ceremonies and events were canceled or modified.

It's a time for us to recognize officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week as National Police Week, paying special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

This year, interim commander Adam Reed and I participated in a procession in Duluth. More than 100 squad cards from departments across our region, including some from the Twin Cities area, created a rolling ceremony on Park Point. The cavalcade of vehicles started by passing through an honor guard lining both sides of a Canal Park street and a large flag held high above by the Duluth fire department's ladder trucks. Bagpipers played "Amazing Grace."

The aerial lift bridge was illuminated by blue lights. The Coast Guard and water patrol boat lights lit up the bay and shipping canal. The cars went down Park Point and then turned around and returned to Canal Park. The bridge operator gave a salute with a sounding of the bridge horn.

Retired police officer and now police chaplain Jon Haataja read the names of all 254 police officers who have been killed in the line of duty in Minnesota since 1887.

As we drove down Park Point, the streets were lined with people waving, holding flags and signs, thanking us for our service. It could just be me, but I have always had a challenging time acknowledging and responding to words and gestures of appreciation. Maybe because it is not the norm we're used to on the job. Perhaps it is because it often happens only when we are mourning the death of one of our officers. I do not know, but it brings out an uncommon sense of emotion in me.

As we continued the drive down Park Point, the names of fallen officers continued to come across our police radio from the oldest to the latest deaths. Suddenly the names took on an increased sense of realness to me. The names were known to me. I was able to put a face, a person, a relationship, a memory, and a loss with that name.

Robert "Beefy" Lawson was one of my grandfather's deputies from the Itasca County Sheriff's Office. He was murdered. Officers Ron Ryan and Timothy Jones from the St. Paul Police Department. In 1994, their funerals were the first I attended for a police officer, representing Hibbing Community College. Erv Clemons from the Carlton County Sheriff's Office was also murdered while I was in college. "Big" Scott Rogers from Clay County was a Moorhead police officer when I was a police explorer riding with him and many others at MPD. Gary Wilson was from the Duluth Police Department and some of his coworkers still work at DPD today. Joe Bergeron from Maplewood, Scott Patrick from Mendota Heights, Melissa Schmidt from Minneapolis; Tim Bowe and Ted Foss from the State Patrol, Joe Gomm from the Department of Corrections, Chris Dewey from Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office, Brian Klinefelter from the St. Joseph Police Department, Steve Sandberg from the Aitkin County Sheriff's Office, and Eugene Wynn from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. All these deaths have changed my life and affected who I am today. Sadly, I know there will be more.

As the names continued over the radio, feelings swirled in my head as I continued to drive and wave and say "thank you" to the citizens lining the streets. I could not help but feel humbled and hoped that through my wave, small gesture that it was, we would connect. I hoped they'd see us for who we are - public servants with human emotions, who feel pain and are not immortal, even though at times we confront danger, defy the odds and do so with disregard for our safety, for the safety of others and the good of our communities.

As the procession concluded, the squads left Duluth in every direction to head back to their communities. I went feeling humbled, and with an increased sense of worth and motivation to serve. I was reminded of how much trust and faith people put in our profession, and the support our communities give their police officers.

I want to thank Duluth Chief Mike Tusken for the invitation and our thanks to everyone who coordinated the event.

I want to thank everyone in our community who sent messages of support and gratitude during National Police Week. We will continue to do our best to serve you with the honor and integrity that comes with wearing the badge.

Derek Randall is the interim police chief and a longtime employee of the Cloquet Police Department. This edited version of his blog post and is reprinted with his permission.