BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The shooting of two police officers and a firefighter/paramedic in Burnsville on Sunday is the latest in a deadly year for law enforcement officers in the Midwest. At least six other officers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota were shot and killed in the line of duty in the past year.
April 8, 2023: Cameron, Wisconsin
Chetek, Wisconsin police officer Emily Breidenbach, 32, and Cameron, Wisconsin police officer Hunter Scheel, 23, were shot and killed by a motorist while conducting a traffic stop in the village of Cameron.
April 15, 2023: Cyrus, Minnesota
Pope County, Minnesota deputy Joshua Owen, 44, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic incident in the town of Cyrus, when a man drew his gun and fired at officers inside his home. A police officer from Starbuck and another Pope County deputy were also injured in the exchange of gunfire. The suspect died at the scene.
RELATED: Remembering fallen deputy Josh Owen
May 6, 2023: Glenwood City, Wisconsin
St. Croix County deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, was killed in an exchange of gunfire while responding to a report of a possible drunk driver by the side of the road. The suspect later took his own life.
July 14, 2023: Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo officer Jake Wallin, 23, a native of St. Michael, Minnesota, was killed in the line of duty as he and other officers were investigating what was described as a "routine traffic incident" when a man opened fire. Two other officers and a woman were injured, while the gunman was killed.
Sept. 13, 2023: Algona, Iowa
Algona, Iowa officer Kevin Cram Kevin Cram was killed while attempting to arrest a man with an active warrant. The suspect was later taken into custody across the border in Brown, County, Minnesota.
Feb. 18, 2024: Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, and firefighter/ paramedic Adam Finseth were shot and killed during a standoff that "escalated into gunfire," according to investigators. Another Burnsville officer was also injured. The suspected gunman was killed.
Officers injured in shootings
Officers were also injured in at least two other high-profile shootings in 2023 in Minnesota: a Minneapolis officer was shot and injured in August while trying to stop a vehicle believed to be involved in an earlier robbery; and five members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force were shot while executing a search warrant in Glendorado Township in October.