Honorary Members

By Layne Lodmell, National Delegate, Emerald Society of Minnesota

On Friday, May 14, 2010 the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies (NCLEES) convened at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.  Emerald Society presidents and delegates gathered from around the county to promote Irish American heritage and to honor all the officers who serve in law enforcement and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

As part of the continuing mission of NCLEES, President Dennis Long presided over the NCLEES Officer of the Year award ceremony.  The room filled to capacity with officers, family and friends from the North Saint Paul and Maplewood Police Departments and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, proudly lining the walls in their Class A uniforms.  Ramsey County Cable Access channel was on hand to film the event.  The members of these Minnesota departments were in Washington, D.C. to honor the memory of North Saint Paul Police Department Officer Richard S. “Critter” Crittenden, Sr., who died in the line duty on September 7, 2009, but on this day they were here to honor and support one of Maplewood’s finest.

NCLEES Officer of the Year Committee Chairman Joseph Keenan welcomed everyone to the ceremony and then spoke of the selection process and the submissions that came in from across the country.  Chairman Keenan then shared the nomination written by Maplewood Police Lieutenant Michael Shortreed:

On Monday, September 7th, 2009 Labor Day, Maplewood Police Officer Julie Olson was requested to assist North St. Paul Police Officer Richard Crittenden at 2253 Skillman Avenue in the City of North St. Paul.  A woman had called the police concerned that her estranged husband had returned to her apartment and may be inside.  North St. Paul Police had dealt with the suspect several times in the past several weeks and as recently as the night before when the suspect fled before squads arrived.  The suspect had an Order for Protection against him.

Officer Olson and Officer Crittenden arrived on the scene at the same time.  They initially searched a vacant apartment near the complainant’s, knowing the suspect had hidden there in the past.  They were then let into the complainant’s apartment which was next door to the vacant apartment.  As they entered the darkened apartment, Officer Crittenden observed a flaming cloth advancing in his and the residents’ direction.  He pushed the residents out of harm’s way and was struck in the face and side of the head with an accelerant-soaked t-shirt.  The suspect then grabbed Officer Crittenden in a “bear hug”.  After a brief struggle, the suspect grabbed Officer Olson in an apparent effort to disarm her.  He then disengaged with Officer Olson and re-engaged with Officer Crittenden.  The suspect grabbed Officer Crittenden’s sidearm from his holster and fired one round at point-blank range, at Officer Crittenden’s head.  The round struck and killed Officer Crittenden instantly. 

The suspect then turned the gun on Officer Olson.  Officer Olson heard one round sail past her ear, so she responded as she had been trained and side stepped and returned fire while seeking cover.  Another round struck Officer Olson’s spare magazine on her duty belt, shattering it and causing pieces of the round to enter her strong side arm.  Now injured, Officer Olson returned fire on the suspect, striking him five times and eventually killing him.  While under the extreme pressure of the moment, she had the wherewithal to do a combat reload as she backed out of the apartment, only to find she had attempted to reload with the shattered magazine.  She subsequently dropped the shattered magazine and reloaded with another magazine, as Maplewood Police Officer Lonn Bakke entered the apartment building.  Officer Olson and Officer Bakke then re-entered the apartment to disarm and handcuff the suspect who subsequently died at the scene.

In a matter of less than 30 seconds, Officer Olson witnessed the murder of Officer Crittenden, was fired upon and injured by the same suspect who had just killed a fellow officer, and returned fire on the suspect who subsequently died at the scene.  Since this incident has occurred, Officer Olson’s actions throughout this incident have consistently been described as nothing less than heroic.

The investigation of this incident was conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.  As a result of the investigation, Officer Olson’s actions have been determined to be proper and appropriate.  The case was reviewed by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, who cleared Officer Olson without even sending the case on to a grand jury.

President Long presented the 2010 NCLEES Officer of the Year Award to Officer Julie Olson of the Maplewood Police Department of Minnesota.  After a long and heartfelt standing ovation, Officer Olson thanked NCLEES and President Long, stating he was the nicest guy she has ever met.

Representative Betty McCollum then spoke of Officer Olson’s dedication and courage. She thanked her and all of the members of law enforcement for the job they do each and every day.  Congresswoman McCollum then presented Officer Olson with an American flag that had been flown over the House of Representatives in her honor.  This was met with another lengthy and sincere standing ovation.

After the ceremony ended and the photo ops were through, President Long, Chairman Keenan and other NCLEES Executive board members approached me and stated this is the type of ceremony they envisioned when they instituted the NCLEES Officer of the Year Award.  Over the past 16 years I have had the honor of attending these annual meetings, either as the National Delegate representing the Emerald Society of Minnesota or in support of the official Minnesota representative.  I must agree with the NCLEES Board that the bar has been raised for upcoming Officer of the Year events.  Officer Julie Olson, Congresswoman McCollum, officers, family members and friends from Minnesota truly have set a standard that will be hard to surpass in the upcoming years. 

Thank you for making Minnesota law enforcement the proud profession that it is.