By Mara H. Gottfried
Pioneer Press
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Burnsville officials are inviting the community to show their respects to three fallen first responders on the one-year anniversary of when they were shot in an ambush.
Three wreaths will be placed at Burnsville City Hall on Feb. 18 , the day that police officer Paul Elmstrand , police officer Matthew Ruge and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth were killed last year. Community members can come out to support the police and fire departments, the city announced Wednesday. City leadership and the city council will provide public comments at 2 p.m.
“Our community continues to heal from the loss of Paul, Matt and Adam,” Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said in a Wednesday statement. “By recognizing their ultimate sacrifice and honoring their memories, we hope to build upon the healing process. Burnsville will not forget these brave men, their courage, selflessness and dedication to our community.”
The city council on Tuesday proclaimed Feb. 18 as Public Safety Memorial Day in Burnsville. The proclamation says that date “will forever live on in Burnsville as a day of remembrance of our fallen heroes and their families.”
Burnsville will light city buildings in blue and red the evenings of Feb. 17 and 18.
Burnsville police and fire fundraising
Fundraising is underway for members of the Burnsville police and fire departments and the families and loved ones of Finseth, Ruge and Elmstrand to travel to national memorial services this spring.
The officers’ names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. , and Finseth’s name will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Maryland , both in May.
The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police Foundation is organizing a fundraiser on GoFundMe (gofund.me/c592dd92) to help cover costs.
“Attending memorial services is critical for the healing process of everyone touched by this tragedy,” said Kevin Rofidal of the MN FOP Foundation . “Getting a sense of shared support and closure is an essential part of the process.”
What happened last year
Last Feb. 18 , Burnsville officers responded about 1:50 a.m. to an in-progress domestic disturbance at a house on 33rd Avenue off Burnsville Parkway . Ashley Dyrdahl rented the home and her boyfriend, Shannon Gooden , lived there, along with their children.
A memo from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office said Gooden was suspected of sexually abusing a child, that Dyrdahl told police he had weapons, that Gooden assured officers he was unarmed, and that police called in many resources and were negotiating with him before Gooden ambushed them. There were seven children in the house with Gooden at the time of the shootings.
Gooden shot more than 100 rifle rounds at law enforcement and first responders, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has said.
Gooden died by suicide and Dyrdahl was federally charged with straw purchasing firearms for Gooden, who wasn’t allowed to possess them because of a past felony conviction. Dyrdahl has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
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