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Home My WebLink About2014 03-12 Legislation would rename Hwy. 36 in North St. Paul to honor slain officer MAPLEWOOD REVIEWKaitlyn Roby/Review Christine Crittenden testifies at a state Senate committee meeting on,March 3 at the Capitol In St. Paulin support of renaming the stretch -of Minnesota Highway 36.that runs the North St. Paul after her late husband. Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL -Maplewood, right, presented the bill, honoring Officer Richard Crittenden who was'shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call on Sept. 70 20096 Le'gisla'tion would rename Hw'. 36 in North St. Pto honor slain officer Pain palpable nearly 5years after Rick Crittenden' s death Kaitlyn RobKA� " � 1 4 Review staff Nearly, five St se . Paul` Officer Rich years rs after North t and Crittenden .was shot and killed ;responding. to a domestic dispute call, those who revered and loved the husband, father and grandfather are .still striving to honor him. "He gave his life for two , people he didn't even know," Police Chief Torn Lauth said. "He.answe're'd the call. We don't all know that. we're not all tested with. that, He 'was and he did." Seri. Chuck Wiger, DFL -Maplewood, presented leg- ,islation on -Monday, March 3, at the state Capitol that would rename the stretch of Minnesota Highway 36, that runs through North St. Paul the "Officer Richard Crittenden Memorial Highway," hwa ." Lauth called Crittenden's death in the line of duty the ."supreme sacrifice," saying that naming a high traffic roadway after him is more than fitting: "People will see this 'and know that officer Rick Crittenden laid. down his life here," Lauth said.." Some of his. grandchildren will be driving soon. They'll see see Highway on page 5 continued from paged that. Crittenden was killed su g on Labor Day, Sept. 7, F g 2009. He was 57. It was around 8:37 a.m. and it was a beau aUN tiful day, Lauth said during the Bearing` on the bill: A woman reported her estranged husband might hurt her z at: the Aspen Village apartment complex, P p ,ift z .. 2253 E. Skillman Ave., Pictured, from left to right, are North St. Paul Police ` in North St. Paul. She . , " DFL - Chief Tom Lauth 'state Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL - had an order of rotec- p Maplewood, Christine Crittenden,.the widow of North tion against the sus- St. Paul Officer Richard Crittenden; state Rep. Leon pect, Devon Dockery.,- '_ ' Lillie, DFL -North St. Paul, and state Rep. Dan Schoen When officers 5 v �` DFL -St. Paul Park. Schoen is a Cottage Grove police entered the apartment,_ Dockery, 34, struck officer. -M 7 2 Crittenden's face with a burning rag took the.: r �� .;� � •;,� � �;. 'h Public. Safety Commit- Also called: "Crit - tee. ter, he the officers gun from his aj - , garnered holster and shot him in "`°`'-N-...., _ On the table in front nickname Grandpa the head. A bullet also of her, she placed a por- Rick," according to hit the wrist of Maple- a T' trait of her late hus- past Review articles, wood Officer Julie .., ,., a band and the photo of because he was the ,I Olson, who responded him holding the hand eldest officer during as backup: She was still of his young grand- his nine years with the able to return fire, . and Q�' � ' daughter that was department, and went killed the man. used as a model for the out of his way to Hien-. Crittenden's brutalbronze statue in his for younger officers. death just,two ears y likeness. The memorial , A photograph of Crit - prior to his expected was. unveiled in front tenden` sits on the desk retirement devastated of the North St. Paul of St. Paul , police Sgt. the community, and Fire Department a year' Mike"`.Wortman, also the close-knit police after he was killed. one of the speakers at. department that has Crittenden continues Crittenden's funeral. If fewer than 20 mem-, to find ways to memori- there ever was someone ' - bers. alize. her husband; not who deserved to have North. St. Paul trans- only to honor Bim but,. a hi hwa named y highway after foamed he day of his, ; � to make sure those in him Wortman sai d, it funeral. As the Funeral uniform who have been was Rick Crittenden Sr. processional passed by . killed aren't forgotten. ."Rick .was a real - "I on main roads-, 'bag- photos -by Kaitlyn Roby/Review know the pain," cop," Wortman told the � pipes bellowed and Supporters of a bill to rename Minnesota Highway 36 in North St. Paul"the Officer shesaid. committee. ' Lauth, Wiger and The c o in in i t t e e hundreds of mourners Richard Crittenden Memorial Highway stand in front of the slain officers squad was North St. Paul city passed the bill unani- and many American car, which repainted as a memorial to Minnesota officers killed in the line of duty, at the state,Capitol March 3. Crittenden's is at center; holding manager Jason Ziemer mously, and referred it flags lined the streets. wife, Christine, her also provided testi- to the Senate floor. Crittenden's life and pictures of husband. death. have inspired. MAR Q1 mony, State Rep. Leon Lillie, proposed changes to Lauth•said Crittenden DFL -North St. Paul, is cern wore memorial pins squad car to his widow, March. 3 in support of domestic abuse laws, a was "very well known" expected to soon pres- "very for a year following his who- had it: repainted the.bill to rename the memorial motorcycle 'North and well loved." ent a companion bill to 'that death. as a memorial to slain St. Paul segment ride, and a statue in 'officers. He noted' Crit- the House. Friends and area busi- Minnesota The of Highway 36 offered front of North St. Paul tenden came to law 1 nesses refurbished a vehicle, which has rows one another a hand 'Qi t, gall: erecte i,, Fz;; d 4} j`198 enforcement later in Kaitlyn Roby can, ,{ �,: <<,..., , .ykr;di .., ,t ,.+ r.w ate., C ev oXet f.names ranted on the on a .should,er or, . an immortalize the ffi- ;s :' h:.: ; p t .,; .s {{ life but '`beili a once. ; b' reacNi ecl '°.a .":; 6� f;- ,, g p e .. o E Corvette for Critten- Trunk, was- parked in embrace, as the voices ;officer was truly acalf-' 748-7814 and,krob�@ cer who had numer- ous nicknames, a sharp dens wife, Christine. front of the Capitol on broke or their eyes ,� ing. lillienews.com. Fol - wit and a big -heart for The couple had planned March 3. filled with tears. use "Rick was: a big low her at twitter.com/ to fisc it up and it Christine Critten- youngsters, especially man'' he said. He had a KRohyNews. after.his retirement. "Very well known, den was among those his grandchildren. "presence about him," The police depart- very well loved" who spoke to the Sen- North St. Paul offi- a booming voice and a ment gave the officer's Those who testified ate Transportation and twinkle in his eyes.