HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 06-07 Maplewood cops stand in slain officer's place for Daughter's graduation PIONEER PRESS Maplewood cops stand in slain officer's place for daughters'
graduation
Updated:06/072015 12:19:18 PM CDT TWIf1CIt12S.COf11
• May 8:
• Minnesota Senate names highways after slain cops Scott Patrick, Joseph
� Ber eron
�� g
: • Aug 11:
'� ` � ' 4 � St. Paul memorial to fallen Maplewood police officer restored
Maplewood It CIICICt't seem right to Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell that the twin
Po�;�e sergea„r daughters of a police officer killed in the line of duty were going to graduate
�osepn eergeron from high school Friday with no one to stand in their father's stead.
was shot and
killed on St.
Paul’s The officer, Joe Bergeron, was shot and killed while investigating a carjacking
East Side on I Il 2010.
Saturday May 1,
20�0. "It had come up that the five-year anniversary of his death was getting near,
and at the same time we realized his two girls were graduating," Schnell said. "That's a big
change for their family, and there was some discussion around the department: 'We should
go there and stand in Joe's place.' "
In all, 17 of the department's 51 total officers were on hand to see Alexandra and Samantha
Bergeron accept their diplomas from White Bear Lake Area High School.
"It was a nice showing, and I think that the girls were certainly surprised," Schnell said. "We
wanted to be there for them, and we were glad we were."
Bergeron, a nearly 26-year veteran of the department, was killed while helping search for
armed carjackers May 1, 2010. He was on the Bruce Vento Trail near Arlington Avenue in St.
Paul when the two men ambushed his car and shot him.
The man who pulled the trigger, Jason John Jones, 21, was shot and killed hours later when
he attacked a St. Paul police officer. The second man, Joshua M. Martin, also 21, was
sentenced to 35 years in prison for aiding and abetting Jones.
To honor his memory, a year after Bergeron's death the Maplewood police department
unveiled a bronze statue of a kneeling officer.
Sarah Horner contributed to this report.