Honoring Fallen Officers, Memorial Held at Roseville Oval

Nearly 41 years ago, Roseville police officer Howard Johnson died of gun shot fire he sustained while chasing down a bank robbery suspect. 

On Thursday, law enforcement officials from suburban Ramsey County communities and family members gathered at a ceremony in Roseville to remember Johnson and eight other individuals who died in the line of duty. 

For Johnson's grandson Brian Sweeney, the memorial ceremony was especially poignant.

"This way, people (the fallen officers) are (still) remembered years after their sacrifice," said Sweeney, of Inver Grove Heights.

The Roseville Police Department hosted the second annual Suburban Ramsey County Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony at the Guidant John Rose Oval. Participants included Roseville Police Chief Rick Mathwig, Ramey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom, Roseville Mayor Dan Roe, Roseville Lt. Lorne Rosand, North St. Paul Police Chief Tom Lauth and retired Lino Lakes Sgt Bill Hammes.

Matthew Perry, a senior at Roseville Area High School, sang the national anthem; Ramsey County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Phil Chelstrom played Taps  and Bob Schmidt, of the Minnesota Police Pipe Band, played "Amazing Grace."

Hammes, who was keynote speaker, said the ceremony meant that "we will never forget" the sacrifices of the fallen officers.  "You will always be foremost  in our thoughts," he said.

Other fallen officers remembered were: Roseville-Officer Bruce Russell, May 16,1982; North St. Paul- Officer Richard Crittenden, Sept. 7, 2009 and Chief Walter Hause, Jan. 6, 1955; Maplewood- Sgt. Joseph Bergeron, May 1, 2010 and Ramsey County Sheriff's Department-Reserve Deputy Mike Wilken, Oct. 25, 2009, Lt. Earl Kennicutt, March, 2, 1988, Sgt. Roger Rosengren, Jan. 28, 1971 and Deputy Kenneth Johnson, Oct. 10, 1958.