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HONOR ROLL

[Officers Killed in the Line of Duty]

 

Saint Paul Police 57th Annual Memorial Day — May 15, 2019
Peace Officer Memorial Service


Calling of the Honor Roll
Chaplain and retired officer Willie Hudson calls the names of those officers who were killed in the line of duty, and after each name you will hear the tolling of the Saint Paul Police Memorial Bell for the officer. Click the button below and you can listen to the Calling as you scroll down the page to read the names and look at the officers' photos.

Listen to the Calling of the Honor Roll   ||   Read about the St. Paul Police Memorial Bell

2000 badge with a mourning bandThe history that the Saint Paul Police Historical Society preserves is dedicated to the Honor Roll of men who have given their lives in creating our history and in serving our city.

View a video version of the Honor Roll here (a 2014 audiovisual presentation by Ron Stover, BackBeat Productions).

Compiled by Historians Jeff Neuberger & Ed Steenberg, Saint Paul Police Historical Society, 2013.

Thirty-two Saint Paul Police Officers have been killed in the line of duty, starting with Daniel O’Connell on June 17, 1882, and ending with Joshua P. Lynaugh on February 16, 2013.

Although at fifteen, gunfire represents the vast majority of fatal incidents, there are a number of other work related situations that proved to be terminal.

Accidental Electrocution: 1   Motorcycle Accident: 4
Automobile Accident: 6   Physical Assault: 2
Fall from Horseback: 1   Streetcar Accident: 1
Fall in Icy Conditions: 1   Heart Attack: 1
Gunfire: 15      

The officers served a wide range of years. Patrolman Daniel O’Connell served the shortest amount of time before he was killed — 4 weeks and 2 days. Sergeant Hans G. Aamold served the longest — 24 years and 21 days. The average amount of time served was 8.75 years.

To the extent possible, birth names of the slain officers have been utilized, as well as applicable police titles. Yes, James W. Finn was a “Mounted Patrolman”; William F. Wilson, a “Police Chauffeur”; and whereas I was a “Patrolman”, Ronald M. Ryan, Jr., was a “Police Officer”. The title “Patrolman” was changed to “Police Officer” in 1974.

Agency and location names, likewise, are time appropriate. The Saint Paul Police, as an agency, has been a department of the city over the years. But during the period that the city used the commission form of government (1914-1972), the agency was a bureau of the Department of Public Safety. Maplewood was a part of New Canada Township (1858) until 1937; Roseville a part of Rose Township (1850) until 1948. City & County Hospital (1872) was renamed Ancker Hospital in 1923; Regions Hospital was first named Saint Paul Ramsey Hospital (1965), then Saint Paul-Ramsey Medical Center (1977) prior to being named Regions Hospital in 1997.

Footnotes have been used to document biographical history of fellow officers mentioned in the assorted chronicles.

Sources:

Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Click the "Read chronicle" link by each officer to read the details of the incident that led to their death.

Photo of Joshua Lynaugh

Joshua P. Lynaugh

Appointed October 1, 2007
Died February 16, 2013

Fatally injured with a heart attack following an on-duty foot chase.

Read chronicle

Photo of Gerald D. Vick

Gerald D. Vick

Appointed September 18, 1989
Died May 6, 2005

Fatally injured by gunfire while working in an undercover capacity.

Read chronicle
(Listen to Chief Harrington's eulogy)
(Read a collection of reflections from officers who worked with Jerry Vick)

Photo of Timothy J. Jones

Timothy J. Jones

Appointed October 31, 1978
Died August 26, 1994

Fatally injured by gunfire while searching for the suspect in Officer Ronald Ryan's murder.

Read chronicle

Photo of Ronald M. Ryan, Jr.

Ronald M. Ryan, Jr.

Appointed January 23, 1993
Died August 26, 1994

Fatally injured by gunfire while responding to a “slumper” call.

Read chronicle

Photo of John J. O'Brien

John J. O'Brien

Appointed October 26, 1971
Died April 16, 1981

Fatally injured when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle that had fled another patrol car.

Read chronicle

Photo of John H. Larson

John H. Larson

Appointed April 1, 1968
Died August 10, 1974

Fatally injured in a traffic accident while responding to a call for emergency assistance.

Read chronicle

Photo of James T. Sackett, Sr.

James T. Sackett, Sr.

Appointed September 3, 1968
Died May 22, 1970

Fatally injured by gunfire from a sniper while responding to a fake emergency call.

Read chronicle
(Read a collection of reflections from officers who worked with Jim Sackett)

Photo of Alfred V. Sandquist

Alfred V. Sandquist

Appointed April 2, 1956
Died June 18, 1959

Fatally injured after his patrol car was struck by a vehicle fleeing from another patrol car.

Read chronicle

Photo of Allan G. Lee

Allan G. Lee

Appointed March 1, 1937
Died September 10, 1949

Fatally injured by gunfire while pursuing a robbery suspect on foot.

Read chronicle
(Read related story) (Listen to Captain Theodore Fahey as he remembers Officer Allan Lee)

Photo of Richard G. Hinshaw

Richard G. Hinshaw

Appointed April 1, 1937
Died October 2, 1937

Fatally injured in a traffic accident while on motorcycle patrol.

Read chronicle

Photo of Lawrence F. Tierney

Lawrence F. Tierney

Appointed June 29, 1925
Died November 14, 1934

Fatally injured by gunfire while pursuing a robbery suspect on foot.

Read chronicle

Photo of Mathew Weiss

Mathew M. Weiss

Appointed May 1, 1911
Died June 17, 1933

Fatally injured in a traffic accident while on patrol.

Read chronicle

Photo of Axel J. Soderberg

Axel J. Söderberg

Appointed January 20, 1912
Died March 19, 1928

Fatally injured from a fall.

Read chronicle

Photo of Calbert H. Leedom

Calbert H. Leedom

Appointed April 1, 1924
Died June 20, 1926

Fatally injured on a motorcycle in a traffic accident.

Read chronicle

Photo of Fred A. Peitsch

Frederick A. Peitsch

Appointed June 11, 1917
Died February 23, 1926

Fatally injured by gunfire by unknown assailants.

Read chronicle

Photo of John Schultz

John Schultz

Appointed June 16, 1919
Died February 23, 1926

Fatally injured by gunfire by unknown assailants.

Read chronicle

Photo of Albert J. Cunnien

Albert J. Cunnien

Appointed December 16, 1913
Died July 3, 1925

Fatally injured on a motorcycle after being forced from the roadway while in pursuit of a motor vehicle.

Read chronicle

Photo of Frank Milanoski

Frank Milanoski

Appointed September 26, 1917
Died August 15, 1924

Fatally injured in an assault by a traffic violator.

Read chronicle

Photo of William F. Wilson

William F. Wilson

Appointed October 14, 1914
Died February 6, 1923

Fatally injured in a traffic accident while on patrol.

Read chronicle

Photo of E. Earl Hackert

Edward E. Hackert

Appointed April 15, 1918
Died February 6, 1923

Fatally injured in a traffic accident while on patrol.

Read chronicle

Photo of George A. Stegner

George R. Stegner

Appointed April 30, 1919
Died October 12, 1922

Fatally injured by gunfire while intervening in a fight.

Read chronicle

Photo of William W. McClintock

William W. McClintock

Appointed June 16, 1919
Died April 2, 1922

Fatally injured in a traffic accident while on patrol.

Read chronicle

Photo of Paul Gottfried

Paul H. Gottfried

Appointed July 11, 1902
Died August 3, 1919

Fatally injured by gunfire during a robbery investigation.

Read chronicle

Photo of Hans Aamold

Hans G. Aamold

Appointed September 6, 1890
Died September 27, 1914

Fatally injured by gunfire while arresting a burglary suspect.

Read chronicle

Photo of Michael J. Sullivan

Michael P. Sullivan

Appointed June 15, 1906
Died June 26, 1914

Fatally injured by accidental electrocution.

Read chronicle

Photo of Frank W. Fraser

Frank W. Fraser

Appointed April 27, 1891
Died August 14, 1911

Fatally injured by gunfire while attempting to apprehend an escaped convict.

Read chronicle

Photo of Richard Cronin

Richard Cronin

Appointed March 10, 1887
Died January 3, 1905

Assaulted during an arrest and had a heart attack.

Read chronicle

Photo of James W. Finn

James W. Finn

Appointed April 30, 1884
Died June 3, 1902

Fatally injured after being thrown from a horse.

Read chronicle

Photo of Charles Mayer

Charles Mayer

Appointed December 1, 1888
Died February 1, 1902

Fatally injured by gunfire during a burglary investigation.

Read chronicle

No photo available

Thomas C. McCarrick

Appointed May 3, 1888
Died June 19, 1891

Fatally injured in a traffic accident involving a streetcar.

Read chronicle

Photo of Hans Hanson

Hans Hanson

Appointed September, 1887
Died August 3, 1888

Fatally injured by gunfire during a burglary investigation.

Read chronicle

No photo available

Daniel O'Connell

Appointed May 18, 1882
Died June 17, 1882

Fatally injured by gunfire during a burglary investigation after going off-duty and enroute home.

Read chronicle