Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you for your sacrifice.

Former MD Police Officer
Fauquier County, Virginia

August 26, 2007

I remember that day of great saddness. At the time i was young and lived in minnesota. officer ryan gave made a sacrafice and shall never be forgotten. he brings the the saying to life "it is not the badge that makes the officer, but the person and the heart behind it."

officer nathaniel marquart
plaquemine police department

April 28, 2007

I do not think a year goes by that I do not remember looking on all of those faces as we crossed the bridge with the lights and sirens behind us.

Piper Scott Alan Cameron
Minnesota Pipes and Drums

December 15, 2005

The killer was nothing short of a coward. I just happened to come across Officer Ryan's memorial page while browsing the ODMP. I will never forget what I just read here. And the citizen that tried to save him.... Something tells me they have found each other in heaven and are looking down on all of the LEO's. Rest in peace, Ron.

Michigan

September 29, 2005

To the family of Officer Ryan Jr.-

I am now the same age as your son was when he was slane. On that day, I was a police explorer with SPPD and I learned the true meaning of duty and sacrifice.

I hope that you know that us, the next generation of law enforcement officers, could only hope to be as brave and as your son.

I am truly sorry for your loss.

Officer Greg Dahlstrom
Apple Valley Police Department

April 14, 2005

ON AUG 26TH 1994 A MALE CITIZEN 48YRS OLD WITNESSED THE DEATH OF OFFICER RYAN. AS THE KILLER WAS WAS DRIVING AWAY CITIZEN SHOT AT THE SUSPECTS VEH WITH A HANDGUN FROM ACROSS THE STREET INTO THE SUSPECTS CAR TO MARK THE VEH SO THE POLICE COULD IDENTIFY THIS CAR.IN DOING SO THIS PREVENTED THE SUSPECT FROM GETTING ON THE NEARBY FREEWAY TO MAKE HIS GET AWAY. BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION THE SUSPECT DITCHED THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE MURDER SCENE AND FLED ON FOOT.THE CITIZEN RAN TO THE FALLEN OFFICER AND ADMINISTERED FIRST AID. THE CITIZEN WAS A HIGHLY TRAINED PERSON IN THE USE OF FIRARMS AND COULD HAVE EASILY SHOT AND KILLED THE SUSPECT. THE CITIZENS DECISION NOT TO SHOOT THE SUSPECT HAUNTED HIM FOR YRS AFTER AND HAD FALLEN INTO A PERIOD OF GUILT AND DEPRESSION AND NOT ABLE TO SLEEP FOR A WEEK AFTER THE SHOOTING. AS IT TURNED OUT A SECOND OFFICER AND HIS K-9 PARTNER WERE SHOT A SHORT TIME LATER BEFORE THE KILLER WAS CAUGHT. IM SAD TO SAY THE CITIZEN PASSED AWAY FROM A HEART ATTACK IN APRIL OF 2004. ON THE 10 YR ANNIVERSERY OF THE LOSS OF OUR OFFICERS A STORY WAS PRINTED IN THE PRESS WHICH READ HERO'S DEATH ADDS SADNESS DATED AUG 26TH 2004. THE FATHER OF FALLEN OFFICER RON RYAN ATTENDED THE CITIZENS WAKE WHICH MEANT SO MUCH TO HIS FAMILY. A LETTER OF CONDOLENCE WAS SENT BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND A POLICE PIN WAS PINNED ON THE LAPEL OF THE CITIZENS SUIT. A RETIRED OFFICER GAVE A EULOGY OF WHAT A GREAT MEN THE CITIZEN HAD MEANT TO ALL OF US. HE WAS LAID TO REST IN THE EXACT SAME MORTUARY ROOM AS SLAIN OFFICER RON RYAN AND WAS BURIED AT THE SAME CEMETARY AS OFFICER RYAN. THE CITIZEN WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS A MEMBER OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DID THAT DAY. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS.

ANONYMOUS
ST.PAUL POLICE DEPT

February 1, 2005

Rest in peace Officer Ryan. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of god." Matthew 5:9

Patrolman
Minneapolis Police Department

August 24, 2004

I still remember Ron's funeral and am somewhat shaken at the events of the day. For some odd reason, several people thought from the back that I was Ron's blonde wife. I know he had not been married very long and I guess his wife and I have similar Scandanavian blonde looks. I actually had people grab me to give me big hugs in the mistaken identity. In a strange way through those hugs of strangers, I felt that there was an intense love for Ron, his family, & his wife. It is so strange to go back to the time of this loss in St. Paul. Never before did a big city seem so small town as when the city lost two of it's own. Both Ron and Nip (Tim Jones) were St. Paul kids. The East side may very well have been St. Paul's Brooklyn, NY. The Irish Catholic roots run deep in St. Paul as does the tradition of public service: police and fire. For this city to lose a young rookie like Ron (with a father serving in the St.Paul PD) and a veteran like Nip - locals were numbed as if one of their own were taken in the morning. Yes, in a way, each time an officer is killed in the line of duty - it is like the blackness hovers over our America. Ron and others, you go before us but your honor, service and memory will live on. To this day, "Amazing Grace" played on the bagpipes rivets me into the past with melancholy: the day/s St. Paul had to bury two of its finest in blue!

Anonymous
retired

August 20, 2004

06/09/04

Another tragic story of a true hero being murdered for doing his duty. You will never be forgotten thanks to the ODMP. Rest in peace Officer Ryan.

Captain Robert W Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.

June 9, 2004

I am truly honored to have worked the East Side, on the same streets Officer Ryan worked and ultimately lost his life. His presence and that of Officer Jones are still very much felt there.

662/383/108

October 18, 2003

Rest easy blue angel, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Anonymous

September 14, 2003

I visited the twin cities, to see the sights just days before Ron's death. I met him briefly on Payne avenue, we talked for a couple, then he got a call. I saddens me to learn of his death. It is shocking, almost ten years later, now I find out. It was a pleasure meeting with you ron. Now rest in peace. Thanks, you can go 10-8....

Officer Dale Heopner
OCSO, Florida
Squad 1017

Thanks Ron 10-7, 10-42

Officer Dale Heopner
Orange County Sherriffs office

I never knew Ron, but heard about this shooting when I was very young. My dad never liked cops, but now I know, all cops do go to heaven, as for siren, the same applies...Thank you for all your hard work and self-sacrafice I will be joining the Saint Police Department very soon, I hope I can live up to the standards that you set for all the boys in Blue.

John Bacigalupo

RON WAS AN EASTSIDER ALL HIS LIFE AND TRULY CARED FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE EASTSIDE OF ST. PAUL. I REMEMBER HOW EXCITED I WAS TO HAVE RON ASSIGNED TO THE EAST SIDE. WHEN HE FIRST CAME HE HAD TO ANSWER PHONES IN PLAINCLOTHES. RON LOVED TO FISH, HIS EYES WOULD GLOW WHEN I USE TO TELL HIM OF THE POUND AND HALF SUN FISH I WOULD CATCH EVERY YR AT THE SPOT UP NORTH THAT MY BROTHER IN LAWS AND I WOULD FISH EVERY YR. I WOULD SAY RON IM BRINGING YOU UP WITH ME NEXT YR. WE WOULD GO IN SEPT. I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY RON CAME TO THE TEAM WITH HIS UNIFORM. AS I HEADED OUT THE DOOR WITH MY GEAR I LOOK AT RON AND SAID-HEY RONNIE HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE ONE OF US? RON SMILED AND SAID IM GOING TO LOVE THIS JOB RENNIE. I HAD BEEN ON 17 YRS AS A COP. MY DAD AND RONS DAD WERE BOTH POLICE OFFICERS. I ALWAYS FELT OVER-PROTECTED WITH OUR NEW OFFICERS GETTING ON THE JOB BUT I ALSO HAD A DEEPER SENSE OF LOYALTY WHEN IT CAME TO ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER BEING ON THE JOB. I LOVED HIM SINCE HE FIRST JOINED OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. I LOVE HIS FATHER RON SR. I KNEW RON WAS GOING TO GO PLACES AND CLIMB THE LADDER IN THIS DEPT. RON WAS LIKED BY EVERYONE AND SO WAS HIS FATHER RON SR. ON AUG 24TH 1994 RON WAS SLAIN IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT AFTER CHECKING ON A MAN SLEEPING IN HIS CAR. THIS WAS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT FOR ALL WHO KNOW AND LOVED HIM. I REMEMBER COMING IN AT 0730 HRS AND HAD TO HIT THE STREET AT 0800HRS. IT WAS ODD TOO SEE ONLY 1 SQ CAR IN THE WHOLE TEAM LOT AND ALL THE PAC SETS SIGNED OUT. I ASKED THE FIRST COPPER I SEEN WHAT WAS GOING ON AND TOLD RONNIE HAD BEEN HIT AT LEAST 4 TIMES, AND AT LEAST ONCE IN THE HEAD AND HAD BEEN RUSHED TO SURGERY. I WORKED THIS DAY TILL 2000HRS. YES RONS KILLER WAS CAUGHT AND IT LOOKED LIKE A BATTLEFIELD IN THIS AREA OF THE EASTSIDE. BEFORE IT HAD ENDED THE SUSPECT HAD TAKEN THE LIFE OF OFFICER TIM JONES AND HIS K-9 PARTNER. YOU KNOW THE GUY THAT YOU WOULD WANT WITH YOU ON A CALL. THE GUY THAT EVERYONE LOOKED UP TOO. THE DEDICATED GUY WHO WAS CALLED FROM HOME AND WOULDNT GIVE UP UNTIL RONS KILLER WAS CAUGHT. THAT WAS TIM JONES WHO EVERYONE RESPECTED AND WOULD ALWAYS COME UP WITH THE BAD GUY WHEN EVERYONE WOULD GIVE UP AND SAY GEE HE MUST HAVE GOT AWAY. TIM LOVED RON AND HE WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP TO CATCH THE SUSPECT. LIKE ALOT OF US WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY I WAS NEVER SO HAPPY TOO GET HOME THAT NIGHT. I HAD 2 SQS. PARKED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE THAT WORKED MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE HOW I WAS DOING. I TALKED BRIEFLY AND THANKED THEM FOR STOPPING BY. I GOT CHANGED AND SAT ON MY BACK DECK AND CRIED MY EYES OUT AS DID MOST OF US THAT DAY. A PART OF ME DIED AND FROM THAT DAY FORWARD WORE MY BULLET PROOF VEST WHENEVER I WAS IN UNIFORM. I WAS SINGING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR AT THE CHURCH WHERE RON HAD HIS SERVICE. FATHER CHARLIE CALLED ME AND SAID REN I WANT YOU THERE. I TOLD FATHER CHARLIE I DIDNT WANT TO WEAR MY UNIFORM OR GUN BUT GOT OVER-RULED. AFTER THE SERVICE WE WENT TO THE GRAVESITE APPROX. 6 MILES FROM CHURCH. PEOPLE STOOD AND WAVED THE AMERICAN FLAG AND BOYSCOUTS SALUTED AND PEOPLE WERE OVERCOME WITH EMOTION MANY CRYING AND I COULD REMEMBER THINKING WHAT A TERRIBLE LOSS FOR THE CITIZENS OF ST. PAUL TOO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT GREAT COPS TIM & RON WERE THAT WE LOST THAT DAY.THANKS TO ALL THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES WHO COVERED OUR CALLS FOR THOSE 2 DAYS TO BURY OUR HERO'S. REST ASSURED TIM MADE SURE RON WALKED INTO HEAVEN WITH HIM . MAY GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES OF THESE BRAVE OFFICERS. I RETIRED JULY 25TH AFTER 25 YRS AS AN OFFICER.

OFFICER RENNIE RENTERIA [RET]
ST PAUL POLICE

May god look over and bless the loved ones you left behind

PO Andrew
Chicago PD

I know that God has you in heaven. Heroes always go to heaven. Rest in Peace.

Anonymous

Ronnie,

In two days it will have been 8 years since your shift was to be over, and mine was just starting at 0700. I think of you often, as I do your friend and mentor, Nip. Nipper came in on his day off to assist in finding your suspect. I continue to pray for your family who has missed you for the past 8 years. Your friends in SPPD blue have also missed you. I will never forget you, your friendliness, and your wonderful spirt towards everyone you came in contact with. May you look down on us and be our guardian angel.
Squad 313 is no longer used as a call number.

"Squad 313, 10-7"

Police Officer
St. Paul PD