HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 09-20 Supporters rally for Minn. law enforcement during march, vigil KSTP K5?'P �� �EYEWlTNESS NEWS
Supporters Rally for Minn. Law Enforcement During March, Vigil
Updated:09/20/2015 9:22 AM KSTP.com By;Tyler Berg
Dozens of people rallied in St. Paul Saturday to show support for
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Minnesota's police officers.
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The rally began with a march from the Peace Officers Memorial � �
to the state capitol. The night concluded with a vigil for the 91
police officers killed in the line of duty this year. '
Step-by-step, the group marched on "National Thank a Police F�n<,��, Pn�c�:KsrP-rv
Officer Day." Caryn Addante said she was marching for her
brothers who are police officers. She said she believes law
enforcement have been facing unfair scrutiny during the last year.
"They're mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters with hearts of gold," Addante said. "I don't think
people realize that."
The vigil hit home for Jackie Bergeron. She lost her brother-in-law, Maplewood Police Officer
]oe Bergeron, when he was shot and killed five years ago.
"There's people out to get police and I don't understand why," Bergeron said. "Most of the
officers that have been killed have been doing routine things."
While officers stood by and watched, Jessica Knutson hoped the goal was met. She's the
president of Behind the Blue Line, a nonprofit made up of about 900 wives and significant others
of police officers. She said the past year has felt like "a war on police."
"I want them to know that more people actually care about them than they actually think,"
Bergeron said. "Because right now, the morale of them and their coworkers is just kind of
poor."