EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Just more than a week after he was injured in a shooting that claimed the lives of three fellow emergency responders, Burnsville Police Sgt. Adam Medlicott spoke publicly for the first time as he shared stories about his fallen comrades at their public memorial service in Eden Prairie.
Medlicott, a supervisor for both late Burnsville officers Paul Elmstrand and Matt Ruge, remembered Elmstrand as a smart, thoughtful and bold man, but retorted, "he still had his moments."
Medlicott then recalled one of those moments.
"One day we were dispatched to a report of a theft in progress at Macy's. As we pulled up to the store, we saw a vehicle unoccupied and idling in front of the main entrance. Excitedly, Paul yells, 'Look, it's the go-away vehicle!'" Medlicott said. "I kind of just looked at him in disbelief for a moment before saying, 'It's getaway car, Paul.'"
Medlicott then spoke of Ruge, saying he'd had transformed from a young, inexperienced officer into his role with the department as a trusted crisis negotiator.
"Everyone here should know he was doing an amazing job of it," Medlicott said. "I was standing next to him on his last call, but now it was Matt that was doing all the talking, and now it was me that was looking to him for the answer.
"I was fortunate enough to watch both of these officers (Elmstrand, Ruge) go full-circle from two, wide-eyed, excited, new cops — one who didn't know what was called the 'getaway car,' and another, who didn't know how to talk to someone in crisis — to an officer who knew the job so well. He was ready to promote, and another, who had just taken over a scene for multiple hours as a crisis negotiator," Medlicott said.
While Medlicott said he didn't know the third fallen responder, Burnsville firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, as well as the other men, he called Finseth the "bravest person" he's ever known after watching him jump into action to help the other officers who had responded to that call.
"Finseth, I didn't know you as well as the other two, so unfortunately, I don't have any intimate stories to share with you. But I saw you run into the line of fire to save me and my guys. You are the bravest person I've ever known. I will be forever thankful," he said.
Medlicott ended his tribute by addressing his fallen fellow emergency responders, saying, "Elmstrand, Ruge, Finseth: We were there for seven children. Nothing could be more honorable. Rest easy, brothers."
Medlicott, who was hospitalized, treated and released after the Feb. 18 shooting on Feb. 18, continues his recovery.
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