[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 80 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1033]]

                       POLICE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL

                                 ______


                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 15, 1995
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, today is National Peace Officers Memorial 
Day, a day dedicated to the 13,814 peace officers who have given their 
lives to protect their communities.
  Two years ago I stood in the well of this House to share my grief 
over the death of a friend of mine, Minneapolis Police Officer Jerry 
Haaf, who was slain in the line of duty.
  At the time, I was haunted by thoughts of another cop friend, J.W. 
Anderson of the Wayzata Police Department, who was killed in 1982.
  The names of these two brave cops are now inscribed on the walls of 
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located just a few 
blocks from here.
  Tragically, Jerry and J.W. were just 2 of 17 Twin Cities area police 
officers who were slain during the line of duty since 1970. Mr. 
Speaker, because we must never forget their ultimate sacrifice, I want 
to share these names:
  James Sackett, St. Paul; Roger Rosengren, Ramsey County; Inno Suek, 
Minneapolis; Joseph Pudick, Minneapolis; Howard Johnson, Roseville; 
George Partridge, Jr., Minneapolis; Curtis Ramsdell, Columbia Heights; 
David Mack, Minneapolis; Michael Cassman, Minneapolis; Richard Miller, 
Minneapolis; Bruce Russell, Roseville; Richard Walton, Oakdale; James 
Anderson, Wayzata; John Scanlon, Robbinsdale; and Jerry Haaf, 
Minneapolis.
  Mr. Speaker, with great sadness I report that two new names will be 
added to the list of Twin Cities police officers on the walls of the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Just last year, two of St. 
Paul's finest police officers, Ron Ryan, Jr., and Tim Jones, were slain 
in the line of duty on the same day. Like all Minnesotans, that tragic 
day will live in my memory forever.
  On Friday, August 26, 1994, Minnesotans were celebrating the first 
week of the State fair. I was at the State fair in St. Paul early that 
day, fresh back from Washington.
  On the way to the fairgrounds that morning, reports started trickling 
in about what would soon become forever etched in Minnesotans' memories 
as one of the worst days in State history for our brave law enforcement 
officers. Just a few blocks away from the fair, a brave St. Paul police 
officer, a rookie, Ron Ryan Jr., the son of another St. Paul cop, was 
answering a routine call about a man sleeping in a car in the parking 
lot of Sacred Heart Church on Hope Street.
  It was the last call he would ever take in a far too brief but 
decorated career in law enforcement. Witnesses report that Officer Ryan 
walked up to the car at about 7 a.m., shined his flashlight inside, 
then walked away. Then the man in the car shot Officer Ryan many times 
in the back, got out of his car and walked over to Ryan, who lay dying 
on the ground. He turned him over, went through his pockets, seized 
Officer Ryan's gun and fled. By 8:30 a.m. 26-year-old Officer Ryan was 
pronounced dead.
  This early-morning shooting set off a massive manhunt. St. Paul 
Police Officer Tim Jones, a 16-year veteran of the force, had the day 
off. But when he heard about the slaying of his fellow officer, Jones 
volunteered to join the manhunt.
  Officer Jones and his canine partner, Laser, had become nationally 
renowned for their law enforcement efforts. At about 10:40 a.m., it 
appears that Laser tracked down the suspect, who then shot both Officer 
Jones and Laser to death. It is a sad irony that Officer Jones was shot 
by the gun that the suspect had taken from Officer Ryan.
  Officer Jones had dedicated his life to law enforcement, especially 
the St. Paul department's canine program. He spent hour after hour, 
virtually all his free time, working with Laser and other officers in 
the canine program. Officer Jones and Laser were inseparable in life as 
they were in their tragic death.
  In spite of this tragedy, we can still hope that the war against 
crime can be won because of the commitment of law enforcement 
professionals like Officers Ryan and Jones. We have newfound 
appreciation and respect for the skills, bravery, and dedication of 
officers like Officers Ryan and Jones. Every day, men and women in law 
enforcement serve on the frontlines and put the safety of the community 
ahead of their own lives.
  I hope every visitor to our Nation's Capital will visit the Law 
Enforcement Officers' Memorial at Judiciary Square. Seeing the names 
carved in the walls will help people realize what cops and their 
families risk every day they put on the badge.
  Mr. Speaker, we honor the dead like Officers Ron Ryan, Jr., and Tim 
Jones by respecting the living. Today we honor these two Minnesota 
officers and law enforcement officials everywhere by thanking their 
families for their sacrifice and sharing their grief.
  I also hope the members of this body will honor the memory of slain 
officers through our actions on this floor. Let us continue to promote 
policies that help the brave men and women in law enforcement prevent 
the tragedy of crime and violence.


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