HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 03-19 Bills would rename 2 roads for slain officers PIONEER PRESS Bills would rename 2 roads for slain police officers
By Kia Farhang Associated Press
Updated:03/192015 10.�09:59 AM CDT TwinCities.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—Minnesota is closer to memorializing two police
� `�'� officers killed on the job.
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_��� Bills to name roads after Mendota Heights Officer Scott Patrick and
�� Maplewood Sgt. Joseph Bergeron moved swiftly through a House
� � ���° � committee Wednesda Patrick was killed durin a traffic sto last
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summer and Bergeron died nearly five years ago while investigating a
� carjacking call.
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`""��`�'��"�ti��s"'°�""v krt`�"°r:���''� goth killings set off massive manhunts for the suspects. Patrick's
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�; �o�o convicted killer is serving a life sentence in prison. The man who shot
Bergeron was later killed in a confrontation with another officer; another
man who helped in Bergeron's killing was sentenced to nearly 36 years in prison.
Rep. Joe Atkins said he met Patrick during a door-knocking campaign.
"You would never have met a more passionate person who loved his community more,"the Inver Grove
Heights Democrat said. He represents Mendota Heights and authored the bill to rename the road Patrick
lived on after him.
Rep. Leon Lillie's bill would memorialize Highway 36 in Maplewood in Bergeron's name. The North St.
Paul Democrat said the call for the bill came from community members who want to thank Bergeron for
his 26 years of service.
Nearly 240 Minnesota police officers have died in the line of duty, according to the Officer pown Memorial '
Page, a national nonprofit. Not all of them were murdered. �
Both bills passed committee on unanimous voice votes Wednesday. They're headed to the House floor.