Peace Officers Memorial Day

(Learfield News/St. Paul, MN) — Governor Tim Walz is ordering all U.S. and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff today (Thursday) in honor of peace officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.

The governor has proclaimed today as Peace Officers Memorial Day and this week as Police Week in the State of Minnesota.

Minnesota lost five law enforcement officers in 2024.

Burnsville Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, Jamal Mitchell of Minneapolis, Voyageurs National Park Ranger Kevin Grossheim, and Red Lake Officer Jesse Branch.

Four of those fallen officers will be recognized during a National Police Week ceremony today (Thurs) in Washington, DC.

Officers Elmstrand and Ruge are read during the honor roll. Officer Mitchell and Park Ranger Grossheim will also be honored.

The names of 345 officers are etched into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall this year.

Red Lake Officer Jesse Branch will be added next May.