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Law enforcement community pledges support Wisconsin police
The Chetek Police Department and Cameron Police Department each lost an officer in the line of duty this weekend.
BARRON, Wis. — As Western Wisconsin mourns the loss of two officers from the Cameron Police Department and Chetek Police Department, law enforcement leaders across the region are pledging their support.
Craig Kolbeck, the chairman of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial, said the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Death Response Team was activated to provide counseling and other resources to the departments and families.
“As soon as the news broke Saturday, it just spread like wildfire on Facebook with all the different agencies sharing their condolences,” Kolbeck said. “Obviously, it’s very devastating. You have two small communities… No matter what the size of the department is, it can happen any place, any time.”
According to preliminary numbers from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, line-of-duty deaths have fallen so far in 2023 compared to this time last year (driven in part by the decrease in COVID deaths). However, when specifically looking at on-duty deaths from gunfire, 64 officers were killed in 2022 — equaling the total from the year before and representing a 21-percent increase compared to the previous decade.
“Whenever this happens, you’ll see police officers wear a band on their badge, to show support for these police departments and police officers who were killed,” said Jeff Potts, the executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and former chief of the Bloomington Police Department. “I put that badge band on many times during my career, and it brings the law enforcement community closer together. It’s a grim reminder of how dangerous law enforcement can be.”
Potts said he reached out to his counterpart in Wisconsin to offer whatever assistance is needed.
“Not just in Wisconsin is law enforcement hurting today, but law enforcement in Minnesota and across the country. Whenever this happens, news spreads fast and everybody is grieving the loss of these two Wisconsin police officers,” Potts said. “My heart is literally broken for these families and these police departments.”
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Local volunteers for both campaigns make final push
With the election seemingly razor-thin, volunteers will continue working until the final ballot is cast.
MINNEAPOLIS — With only a few days left until Election Day, volunteers from both campaigns are doing what they can during the final push.
On Saturday, Kamala Harris supporters canvassed in north Minneapolis. They knocked on doors encouraging those who hadn’t voted yet, to do so.
In Lakeville, Trump supporters gathered with Congressional District 2 candidates, as they geared up to reach those final voters.
“Donald Trump lost by a small margin here in Minnesota and we want that to be different this year, this time around,” said Crystal Mcdonnell. Mcdonnell canvases not only to try and sway voters to Trump but also to help them fulfill their civic duty.
“(We) offer assistance in registering to vote, give rides to fellow patriots who may not have the means to get out and vote,” Mcdonnell said.
In north Minneapolis, first-time canvasser Samirya Strong was doing her part to help her candidate win.
“We need to activate everyone who is able to vote, to vote up and down for freedom and justice and equality for all,” Strong said.
With the election seemingly razor thin, this type of leg work from both campaigns will continue until the final ballot is cast Tuesday night.
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Young children pulled from burning townhome Saturday
Four people, three children and an adult, were taken to the hospital Saturday night after a townhome fire on County Road D East.
VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening.
Chief Chris Hearden with Vandnais Heights Fire said in a press release that four local fire departments were called to a fire in a townhome complex at around 5:40 on Saturday evening.
When crews arrived in the 1000 block of County Road D East, they saw fire and heavy smoke pouring from a townhome.
A neighbor told KARE 11’s Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said he heard the kids screaming and then saw them pulled from the home.
“Tried my best to run in there… the fire, the smoke… don’t know the blueprint, don’t know the surroundings, couldn’t see nothing so I got out of there,” said Venjoseph Brown, obviously shaken. “I was no use… and there was still kids in there. If it was that bad on the outside, I could wonder what they was goin’ through.”
Officials confirmed two young children were pulled from the burning building by emergency crews. Two other victims, an adult and another child, were able to escape on their own. All four were taken to Regions Hospital and Hearden said their conditions are unknown at this time.
Engines from Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Maplewood and White Bear Lake worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out as of 7:15 p.m. Crews on scene noted that damage to the first floor of the townhome was extensive.
The Vadnais Heights Fire Department, Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team and the State Fire Marshall’s Office are all investigating the cause of this fire.
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Neighbor says children were pulled from burning townhome
VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — A witness said multiple children were pulled from a burning townhome in Vadnais Heights early Saturday evening.
Fire crews from a number of east metro departments were dispatched to the home at 1087 County Road D East around 5:45 p.m. A neighbor told KARE 11’s Ian Russell that he ran to help, but the flames were too hot for him to go inside. He said children were pulled from the home. At this time it is unclear how many victims or what their conditions are.
Engines worked to knock down the fire, which appeared to be out or at least under control as of 7:15 p.m.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will update as details become available.
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