Bob CollinsA news release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has details of the funeral for Richard Crittenden, who was killed in the line of duty in North St. Paul on Monday morning.
The funeral service for slain North St. Paul Police officer Richard Crittenden will be held Friday, September 11, 11 a.m. at Aldrich Arena, 1850 North White Bear Avenue in Maplewood.
Visitation will take place Thursday, September 10, 4 – 8 p.m. at Sandberg Funeral Home, 2539 East Seventh Avenue in North St. Paul.
Officer Crittenden, 57, a nine-year veteran of the North St. Paul Police Department, died at the scene and a Maplewood police officer was injured during a domestic call in the 2200 Block of Skillman Avenue East in North St. Paul on Monday morning. A woman called police to report a violation of an order of protection. When the officers arrived, they confronted a male suspect and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, two officers and the suspect were shot.
The Maplewood police officer was treated and released at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. The suspect died on the scene.
The City of North St. Paul has established a memorial fund for slain Police Officer Richard Crittenden. Officer Crittenden was killed on Monday, September 7, 2009, in the line of duty.
The fund has been set up at Anchor Bank Heritage, N.A. in North St. Paul. Donations can be made at any Anchor Bank location, or can be sent to the North St. Paul branch at 2700 7th Ave. E., North St. Paul, MN 55109. Checks should be made payable to the Richard Crittenden Memorial Fund.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating the shooting.
Meanwhile, we got this e-mail today from a reader in North St. Paul:
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Officer Crittenden wasn’t liked, he was loved. He had a irascible tone to him, he’d like you to think that he was a hard-nosed cop, but he had a twinkle in his eye that told you he was one of the truly good guys. He loved what he did and was good at it. I used to chat with him in the morning at Holiday as he got his coffee.
Earlier this year as I stopped in on my way to work I went into the Holiday station and parked out front was this beautiful police motorcycle. Yup, Rick had his boots on and was policing on the motorcycle. He had a grin on his face from ear to ear. The sun was shining, the day was good, and Rick I’m sure had a wonderful day riding on that cycle. God bless you Rick, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. There’s a special place in heaven for men like you. You’ve earned that place. Thank you for your service to the community, and thank you for your sacrifice.
Of course, we still don’t know what exactly happened in yesterday’s shooting.
