Residents Near and Far Line Procession Route to Honor Fallen Officer
Thousands of people filed into Maple Grove Senior High School on Tuesday to honor the life of fallen Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell.
Mitchell, who lived in Maple Grove, was killed in the line of duty in late May when responding to an apartment shooting.
Those thousands included families and officers from throughout Minnesota, including officers in the northwest suburbs. Outside the service, Crystal police Sergeant Jake Albers told CCX News that it was important for him to show support for Mitchell’s family.
Mitchell’s death comes just a few months after two Burnsville police officers and a paramedic were killed when responding to a domestic violence call. Albers said the losses have been too many, too soon.
“It’s hard to see fallen brothers like this,” Albers said. “It’s hard to see the family. It puts into perspective how important life is.”
Albers said many other Crystal officers took Minneapolis calls on Tuesday. That way, more Minneapolis officers could honor their fallen colleague.
A procession of officers on horseback escorted Mitchell’s body into the school in a caisson wagon. The school had room for 5,000 guests at the service.
Officers on horseback carry Mitchell’s casket into Maple Grove Senior High School Tuesday morning.
Hundreds Drive in, Support Procession
Mitchell’s service concluded with a procession from the service to the airport. Many families, from both near and far, gathered on 93rd Avenue in Maple Grove to show support.
Some waved flags, others held signs. Some stood with their hands on their hearts as officers drove their cars by with their lights on.
Many of them were calling for police support, including Dayton neighbor Mike Kautz. He listened to the service, and called Mitchell the officer “we needed.”
“That’s why I’m here. We have to support the blue, we have to support the police. Emergency response, the fire department. Because it’s important for our state, our community, our country,” Kautz said.
The procession was lengthy, made up of hundreds of emergency vehicles from first responders across the state.
It traveled from Maple Grove Senior High School, down Interstate Highway 494 and to Highway 62 en route to the airport.
A donation fund is in place to support Mitchell’s family. More information on how you can help is on the Law Enforcement Labor Services’ website.
