Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network

Massachusetts Police News, Information and Discussions on MassCops

Posted by: kwflatbed

BY DAVID HANNERS Pioneer Press
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)

A Minneapolis Park Police officer chasing a suspect was struck and injured by a police squad car this afternoon.
Police refused to identify the officer or say what his condition was, but he was undergoing medical treatment at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale after the incident.
"We're not releasing any of that information right now," said Sgt. Jesse Garcia III, a spokesman for the Minneapolis Police Department. He said the refusal was based on the wishes of the officer's family.
He added that, contrary to earlier claims attributed to Chief of Police Tim Dolan, the injured policeman was not in serious condition.
"The chief said it was a very serious matter at this point, not that he was in serious condition," Garcia said.
Lt. Rob Goodsell, supervisor of the uniform patrol for the park police, did not immediately return calls. Similarly, a spokesman for North Memorial did not return calls.
The incident happened a bit after noon, Garcia said. Police got a call claiming shots had been fired in the vicinity of 27th Avenue North and Irving Avenue North in the city's Jordan neighborhood.
When officers arrived, they began following a car leaving the area, he said, adding that "a short, slow pursuit ensued."
The driver of the suspect car crashed the vehicle into a yard. Garcia said he didn't know how many people were in the car, but they got out and began running. At least two people were taken into custody.
The foot chase went through some yards and an alley, and when one officer, assigned to the park police, crossed into an alley, he was hit by a marked Minneapolis Police Department squad car and injured.
"We're not sure exactly the details of how the squad car was in position or how it was moving," said Garcia.
The driver and passenger of the police car - whom Garcia also declined to identify - have been placed on administrative leave, which he said is standard policy when an officer is injured.
He said it appeared no one had been injured in the original "shots fired" police call.

wire service

---

Posted by: kwflatbed

By Maricella Miranda
The St. Paul Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A long week for police officers ended Friday when a Minneapolis Park Police officer died of injuries suffered when a squad car hit him during a short pursuit in a neighborhood alley more than a week ago.
The Parks Department believes Mark Bedard, 34, was the first Minneapolis park police officer to die in the line of duty since the agency's inception in 1883, said park police officer Ron Reier.
The injury occurred Nov. 1 when police got a call of shots fired in the vicinity of 27th Avenue North and Irving Avenue North in the city's Jordan neighborhood, said Minneapolis police Sgt. Jesse Garcia III.
When officers arrived, they began following a car leaving the area.
Bedard started chasing the suspects on foot into yards and an alley. A marked Minneapolis Police Department squad car, which had two female officers in it, hit Bedard when he crossed into an alley.
An internal investigation is under way.
Park police officials would not give details of Bedard's injuries that led to his death, except to say he had "serious injuries." Bedard died at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.
"It's been a tough week," said Park Police Chief Brad Johnson.
Groups of Minneapolis police officers had crowded around his hospital room since the incident, supporting his wife, Andrea, and their son, Nick.
"We had some hope," Johnson said. "Deep down, a lot of us realized even if he had survived, it would not have been the same Mark we had known. I'll remember Mark as a smiling guy."
Officers shared photos of Bedard, including a snapshot of him on a cold day in March plunging into Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis with his park police team for a Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser. In the photo, he rushes through the frigid water, waving his arms to gain more speed.
"He's a big, cuddly, teddy bear guy," Reier said.
Bedard became a park patrol agent 12 years ago for the Minneapolis Park Police, which includes 37 officers.
Two years later, the department promoted him to park officer. Bedard also was a shooting range instructor and worked on horse patrol. The Minneapolis native earned awards for his police work.
"Minneapolis has really lost a very good cop and a decent man," said Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Sharon Lubinski.
Bedard attended Minnehaha Academy and Augsburg College.
He married his wife in 2001.
Andrea Bedard carried her son in her arms Friday as she spoke of her husband.
"Mark was a great husband and a wonderful father," she said.
"Our family is very appreciative of the love and support that we have received," she said. "As you continue to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers, please remember the other officers who were involved in this tragedy."
After the incident, Patricia Grant and Patricia Annoni, the officers in the squad car, went on administrative leave - a standard policy when an officer is injured. Grant opted to take additional time off from work. Annoni has returned to work.
Police officials did not know how long the internal investigation would take.
"We're taking a hard look at this," Lubinski said. "We're taking it very, very seriously."
Funeral arrangements are being planned for next week.

Wire Service

---

vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
vB Easy Archive Final ©2000 - 2008 - Created by Stefan "Xenon" Kaeser