FORT SNELLING - An army of law enforcement professionals and well-wishers gathered Tuesday morning at the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, to honor a corrections officer who died in the line of duty.
Hundreds packed both the inside and outside of the chapel for the funeral of Officer Joseph Parise. A full procession was then held before Parise was interned in Stillwater, not far from the state prison at Oak Park Heights where his life ended.
The 37-year-old Parise died after suffering a medical emergency just moments after he jumped in to help a fellow guard who had been attacked by an inmate. Investigators are still looking into the incident, and will determine with local prosecutors whether criminal charges can be filed in Parise's death.
At the funeral service Tuesday morning, Parise's fellow corrections officers recalled his famous sense of humor, his courage and his devotion to family. Parise, a former Navy firefighter, is survived by his young daughter and wife, who is expecting their second child.
"He had an infectious laugh, and Joe loved to have fun. He would find the humor in every situation, and it was that humor that made working in a prison bearable," former co-worker James Carter said at the service. "My heart breaks for you (Parise's wife) and your family. Just remember, Joe will always be with all of you, watching over all of you, wherever you may go."
Parise is the second state corrections officer to die on duty in the past few months, following the death of Joseph Gomm this summer.