Ramsey County Deputy Narrowly Escapes Gunfire During Pursuit, Reflecting Escalating Danger for Law Enforcement

(KNSI) — A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy had a close call Friday night after someone in a fleeing vehicle shot at his patrol car.

At about 11:00 p.m., St. Paul police tried to stop a darked out Honda Accord, but the driver would not pull over. They were allegedly speeding and ignoring stop signs. A deputy picked up the chase, but the driver still would not stop. At some point during the pursuit, someone in the car leaned out the window and started firing from what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, hitting the car.

One of those bullets came through the dash, and a fragment hit the deputy on the strap of his tactical vest near his collarbone. He was taken to the hospital for observation and released.

Rifle casings were recovered from the scene, and the car was found abandoned six blocks away.

The Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association issued a statement afterward saying it is relieved the officer wasn’t killed, and this “illustrates the severe danger to law enforcement in their duties to keep communities safe. The increased violence against law enforcement is at a crisis level: a war on police in Minnesota.

“Law enforcement, who put their lives on the line every day to keep communities safe, deserve respect and support, not violence and hostility.

“Public safety officials need help during this recruitment and retention crisis: community support and resources to do their jobs effectively and safely.

“Anti-police proposals only fuel the fire of the war on law and order. It’s time for leaders to support law enforcement and stop providing aid and comfort to lawlessness.”

The number of assaults on police has gone up 160% in the last decade.

February 18th, two police officers and a firefighter paramedic were shot to death during a standoff at a home in Burnsville. On April 15th, 2023, a Pope County Deputy Sheriff was shot and killed while on a domestic violence call. In just over the last year in Wisconsin, four cops have died in the line of duty. In North Dakota, two officers were also killed in the last year. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, in 2021, 633 officers died in the line of duty. That included COVID-19, gunfire, or traffic related fatalities. In 2022, there were 230. So far this year, there have been 35 line of duty deaths.

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