St Paul PD, MN

[IM911]

An undercover Sgt was shot and killed in St. Paul this morning. The suspects are still at large. I'll post more when I have it.

K9 Police- Our thoughts and prayers are with SPPD.

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St. Paul police officer dead after being shot
May 6, 2005 SHOT0507
Police were conducting a manhunt throughout the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul after a vice officer working undercover was shot dead early this morning. Two suspects were at large.

Sgt. Jerry Vick was pronounced dead at Regions Hospital this morning, Chief John Harrington told reporters in a 6 a.m. news conference. He had been shot in an alley near Seventh and Forest Streets after exchanging gunshots with two suspects around 2:20 a.m. The alleged gunmen fled on foot.

Witnesses said they heard 10 to 12 gun shots; authorities said Vick was shot multiple times.

St. Paul police closed down city streets within 1 1/2 miles of the shooting site, although freeways remained open. Police teams were working with canines and heavy weapons support in carrying out a door-to-door search. St. Paul officials also asked for aerial support from the National Guard, Harrington said.

[pantless]

Repeating what IM911 said, my condolences to St. Paul PD.
Truly a tragedy for the department and this city.
Here's an update on the story:
St. Paul officer shot dead; 2 arrested
Duchesne Drew, Star Tribune
May 6, 2005 SHOT0507
St. Paul police took two suspects into custody after a wide-ranging manhunt through the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood, where a vice officer working undercover was shot dead early this morning.

Officers dressed in camouflage could be seen going door to door as a National Guard helicopter hovered overhead.

Sgt. Jerry Vick was pronounced dead at Regions Hospital, Chief John Harrington told reporters during a news conference. Vick had been shot in an alley near Seventh and Forest Streets after exchanging shots with two suspects outside Erick's Bar around 2:20 a.m. The alleged gunmen fled on foot.

"This is a grim day. It's a day that the lights of one of the great heroes have gone out," Harrington said.

Witnesses said they had heard 10 to 12 shots; authorities said Vick was shot multiple times.

Amanda Ropella, 23, lives near the scene. She said she was awakened around 2 a.m. by the sounds of male voices arguing in an alley. She said she heard at least one distinctive voice, but didn't hear any gunshots.

Ropella said she stayed up until 2:30 a.m., but the voices had faded in the distance.

St. Paul police closed down city streets within 1 1/2 miles of the shooting site, although freeways remained open this morning. More than 100 officers were working with canines and heavy weapons support in carrying out a door-to-door search. St. Paul officials also had asked for aerial support from the National Guard, Harrington said.

Vick was a well known and highly respected officer, Harrington said.

"Jerry loved what he was doing. Being a cop was phenomenal for Jerry," Harrington said. "He reminds us to never give up that joy for the job.

"The department's gonna miss the hell out of him," Harrington said.

Mayor Randy Kelly and Fire Chief Doug Holton joined Harrington at this morning's appearance.

"I don't think that there is a greater tragedy to befall a community then the loss of a police officer," Kelly said. "As mayor...I know I speak for every citizen of St. Paul in expressing our greatest sorrow to Sergeant Vick's family and to his two children."

Vick, 41, was a 22-year veteran of the St. Paul force and was actively working with a partner on a prostitution detail at the time of his shooting, Harrington said.
Vick had received two medal of valor commendations: One was made in December 1990, for rescuing a child from a burning home. The other was awarded in 1997, after Vick shot and killed an armed suspect at a crime scene.
"I want to assure all the people of St. Paul that the police are actively engaged in pursuing and apprehending the two suspects in this shooting," Kelly said.

[K9 Police]

Thank you IM911. It has been a rough start to the morning and we are also working Cinco De Mayo tonight and tomorrow.

All of our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. A tragedy that words can not describe.

K9

[kingpervis]

I was in bed by 0100 hours last night, so I didn't find out about this unitl 1000 this morning. Looks like the suspects are in custody, according to the Star Tribune.

A sad day for SPPD and all of us across the Metro. I'm sorry to hear of this horrible crime.

[msp]

RIP

[POBOX911]

Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as this is the largest nightmare anyone could ever imagine. It's all that has been talked about by my agency, especially since we are a boardering agency. We actually had a few officers taking calls last night in St Paul to help out.

RIP

[LearninginMN]

Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as this is the largest nightmare anyone could ever imagine. It's all that has been talked about by my agency, especially since we are a boardering agency. We actually had a few officers taking calls last night in St Paul to help out.

RIP

Thoughts and prayers to St. Paul PD, and their fine members

[K9 Police]

Sgt. Vick Funeral Arrangements

Funeral arrangements were announced Saturday for St. Paul Police Sgt. Gerald
Vick, who was gunned down in the line of duty.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bradshaw Funeral
Home at 1078 Rice Street in St. Paul.

Vick's funeral will be at noon Wednesday at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran
Church at 1669 N. Arcade St. He will be buried at St. Mary's Cemetery at
Lydia Avenue and Helen Street.

St. Paul City Hall is usually closed on weekends, but it was open Saturday
and will be open again Sunday so people can sign a memory book that will be
presented to the officer's wife and two children.

A college fund for Vick's children has been established:

"Sergeant Jerry Vick Memorial Fund"
City and County Credit Union
144 11th Street East
St. Paul, MN 55101