North St. Paul unveils memorial to fallen officer

North St. Paul, Minn. (AP) — As the one-year anniversary of North St. Paul police officer Richard Crittenden's death in the line of duty approaches, the city is preparing a permanent memorial.

On Tuesday, the officer will be memorialized with a life-size bronze statue to be displayed in front of North St. Paul city offices.

Crittenden was killed Sept. 7, 2009, when he and another officer were ambushed by a man in a North St. Paul apartment. The suspect grabbed Crittenden's gun and shot him with it. The other officer then shot and killed the suspect.

Scott Swensen, a member of the North St. Paul Law Enforcement Officers Association, tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press the statue is a way to remember how his colleague answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice.

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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press

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