HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 07-15 July 18 marks sixth annual memorial run for slain North St. Paul Officer Richard Crittenden MAPLEWOOD REVIEW3/8/2016 July 18 marks sixth annual memorial run for slain North St. Paul Officer Richard Crittenden I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
duly 18 marks sixth annual memorial run
for slain North St. Paul Officer
Richard Crittenden
Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 07/15/2015 - 1:59pm
By: Erin Hinrichs
Bikers congregate outside IVa uma.=nn's for Rick's Ride in 2013,
7 his year's memorial l run will take place on Saturda.y, July 113.
Sean n K a.= ttsartici a tea in a moment of silence at a pricer
Crittenden memorial run, (submitted photo)
Escorted by area police, more than 140 bikers
maria; to I:::Iresco11; Wisconsin, to Donor slain North
St, Paul Officer Richard Crittenden,
(submitted photo)
M.,
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3/8/2016 July 18 marks sixth annual memorial run for slain North St. Paul Officer Richard Crittenden I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
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From his post at Neumann's, longtime bartender Frank Kohler has forged camaraderie with a number of locals and city
employees -- including the late North St. Paul Police Officer Richard Crittenden.
Kohler says Crittenden was very strict, but also knew how to joke around and have fun.
"I used to have spiky hair," Kohler says, setting up a story about the time Crittenden ran up to him, asking if he was scared.
"He had a laugh like a tickled bear -- this belly laugh," Kohler recalls.
On Saturday, July 18, Kohler, along with a whole slew of bikers, will share more favorite memories of Crittenden as they pay
tribute atthe sixth annual Rick's Ride. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Neumann's Bar and the bikers will roll out at 11 a.m.,
headed for the first stop at Beach Club Bar and Grill in Lakeland. From there, the route heads north on the Wisconsin side of
the river to Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt, then onward to Tippy Canoes in Osceola for lunch. After one last stop at
Meister's Bar and Grill in Scandia, riders will end up back at Neumann's Bar by 4:30 p.m. for food and live music.
"Come for a day of celebration of life for a wonderful man and police officer," Kohler says.
Killed in the line of duty
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3/8/2016 July 18 marks sixth annual memorial run for slain North St. Paul Officer Richard Crittenden I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
Crittenden, 57, was a nine-year veteran of the North St. Paul Police Department.
He was shot and killed atthe Aspen Village apartment complex around 8:30 a.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009, while
responding to a domestic disturbance call.
When Crittenden and Maplewood police officer Julie Olson arrived, they confronted a male suspect and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle, Crittenden was shot and killed while attempting to protect the woman.
Olson sustained a gunshotto the wrist, returned fire and killed the suspect, Devon Dockery, 34.
Crittenden is survived by his widow, Christine, son Rick Jr., daughter Stacy and grandchildren.
Christine continues to honor her husband by driving his retired squad car -- which has been converted to a tribute car,
decorated with the names of more than 270 other fallen Minnesota officers -- to funerals and memorial events across the
nation.
Crittenden had previously served with the Wabasha County Sheriffs Office for four years. He also served in Vietnam with the
U.S. Army.
He's the first North St. Paul police officer ever to have been killed in the line of duty.
Police -escorted ride
Officer Steve Ronnie has been one of the driving forces behind the memorial motorcyle event, which began in 2010. Ronnie
served as Crittenden's field training officer when he firstjoined the North St. Paul Police Department. He also got to know
Crittenden's wife, Christine, while she worked as a reserve officer for the same department.
"We were trying to help with something to memorialize Rick and this is something I knew he enjoyed doing," Ronnie says.
Crittendon rode the police department's Harley while on duty and rode his own Harley for fun.
Area police will participate by escorting the bikers through intersections along the route. In years past, the convoy has
consisted of as many as 140 bikes, Ronnie says.
Some knew Crittenden while he served as an officer in North St. Paul. Others are getting to know him through the stories that
are shared each year.
Steve Verhulst, 63, a graduate from North High School, has participated the past two years. He didn't know Crittenden, but
he's added the memorial run to his summer list.
"I like going on runs, and you've gotto pay tribute to an officer who gave his life like that," he says, pointing outthe factthat
he's wearing the T-shirt he purchased from the event Iastyear.
He's also started decorating his leather biker vestwith memorabilia from the event. He boughtthe Rick's Ride patch in 2013
and his first rocker to place beneath the patch in 2014.
Food, music, stories
There is a $20 registration fee for drivers and a $10 fee for passengers. Proceeds will be donated to Make -a -Wish, Thin Blue
Line and Disabled American Veterans.
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3/8/2016 July 18 marks sixth annual memorial run for slain North St. Paul Officer Richard Crittenden I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
After the ride, participants are invited to stick around Neumann's for bar food, drinks and music by the Inside Straight Blues
Band.
Forth ose who want to reminisce, there will be plenty of time for that as well.
Kohler says Crittenden -- or "Critter" as he was commonly known -- was an "old school" cop who'd intervene before an
inebriated bar patron risked getting behind the wheel.
But he didn't play favorites.
"I think I [got] the last ticket he gave," Kohler says.
He had blown through a stop sign when he heard Crittenden's familiar voice projecting over the intercom.
"He said, `Frank, pull over. You didn't even try to stop. I have to give you a ticket.'
"We were both laughing."
If you go...
Pay tribute to Officer Crittenden at the Rick's Ride event on Saturday, July 18.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Neumann's Bar located at 2531 E. Seventh Ave. in North St. Paul. The ride starts at 11 a.m.
and concludes back at Neumann's Bar around 4:30 p.m. with food and live music to follow.
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrich sp_lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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