Gov. Tim Walz has ordered flags be lowered starting at sunrise Monday, Feb. 19, in honor of the Burnsville Police Officers and Firefighter/Paramedic killed in the line of duty.
Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth were part of the public safety team that responded to a report of a domestic situation in the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 18. A man reported to be armed was barricaded inside a home with family members. A few hours after public safety personnel arrived, the situation escalated into gunfire with responders.
Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth were killed by the gunman during the response. One other Police Officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was injured and transported to a hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Elmstrand, 27, joined the Burnsville Police Department in August 2017 as a Community Service Officer. He was promoted to Officer in July 2019. He was part of the department’s mobile command staff, peer team, Honor Guard and field training unit.
Ruge , 27, joined the Burnsville Police Department in April 2020. He was part of the department's crisis negotiations team and was a physical evidence officer.
Finseth, 40, served as a Burnsville Firefighter/Paramedic since February 2019 and was part of the public safety team's SWAT unit and served as a water rescue trainer. He was also part of the City’s Health & Wellness Committee.
Walz also issued proclamations in honor of each of the fallen. Each reads, in part, “It is with deepest gratitude that the State of Minnesota recognizes [his] dedicated service to, and sacrifice for, his fellow Minnesotans. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and community.”