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Remembering the lives of Burnsville Officers Elmstrand, Ruge
Both officer Elmstrand and Ruge were 27 years old. Both men graduated from a Minnesota university in 2018 before joining the Burnsville Police Department.
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — We are learning more about the two Burnsville police officers who died over the weekend.
Both men were 27 years old, and both graduated from college in 2018.
Officer Paul Elmstrand graduated from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul with a degree in criminal justice.
“Paul had a clear sense of calling to be a peace officer and he took it very seriously,” Northwestern psychology professor Melissa Mork said.
Mork had Elmstrand as a student in a few of her classes. She was amazed by his dedication to policing and his schoolwork.
“He did all the right things in his major and his training,” Mork said. “He took this so seriously and he was committed to the role.”
“He was fun. He was just a fun guy to have in class, a fun presence and just a pleasure as a student.”
Elmstrand was even focused on learning outside of the classroom.
Burnsville police say Elmstrand was working as a community services officer with their department while he was attending classes at Northwestern. Police say Elmstrand was also involved in the Isanti County Law Enforcement Explorers Program as a teenager.
“Paul saw his work as more than just a job. He saw it as a vocation, a calling, that he had a role to fill to serve the public,” Mork explained.
Before going to Northwestern, Elmstrand was a 2015 graduate from Cambridge-Isanti High School.
Retired activities director and current school board member Mark Solberg says Elmstrand was class president, a member of the student council, was in the national honor society, ran cross country and volunteered for their Link Crew where he helped incoming freshmen transition to life in high school.
“It’s not surprising that he chose to be a police officer because he was already serving here years ago,” Solberg said.
Elmstrand’s colleague, Officer Matthew Ruge, followed a similar path to the Burnsville Police Department.
Ruge also attended a Minnesota university, pursuing an education degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
The president at MSU-Mankato says Ruge also graduated in 2018.
President Edward Inch says the officer who was injured during the shooting on Sunday, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was a 2007 graduate of Mankato.
“My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of those injured and killed, and to all those in our community who are affected and feel a deep sense of loss,” President Inch said.
“In every corner of the world, Mavericks are doing incredible and sometimes dangerous work. On days like these, we must remember that even in dark times, our community is strong and resilient.”
Cindy Elmstrand-Castruita, the wife of Officer Paul Elmstrand, also shared a statement:.
“Our family is heartbroken at Paul’s death. He was an amazing husband, father, son, and friend to many. He loved to laugh and loved to play. He was the most generous, loving, patient person I’ve ever known with the biggest smile. He would stay awake so others could sleep. He could make anyone in a room feel welcome. He wore the same pair of pants and the most basic clothes so that he could spoil me and our children. He had a servant’s heart and would drop everything to help someone who was in need, whether it be family, friend or someone on the street. He loved his job as a police officer and had a strong bond with those he worked with, but he always placed his family first. He had an inner-confidence that was anchored in his faith in Jesus Christ.”
“We just started cooking and putting food out for folks,” Mary Vance said.
NEWLAND, N.C. — As the Newland community continues to clean up after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc just over a week ago, residents and those coming in to help are looking for their next meal. Many businesses in the community are stepping up to serve.
“We’re part restaurant, part catastrophe relief,” Belle Morgan, co-owner of the Cranberry Street Cafe, said.
To say things have been chaotic may be an understatement.
“In the middle of Armageddon,” Morgan said, laughing. “Feels like it.”
Damage is easy to see on the outskirts of town. Morgan says many here may not have been prepared for this.
“I think a lot of people up here were just sideswiped with it,” she said. “Just absolutely flabbergasted.”
Power at their cafe was slow to come back on. When Morgan’s mother, Mary Vance, went to check on their business last week, she noticed they still had no power — but plenty of guests.
“They were using our Wi-Fi because we had good connectivity,” Vance said. “My son-in-law insisted on having good connectivity.”
“People need a lifeline,” she added.
That lifeline led to folks giving or asking the cafe to cook their food, at risk of spoiling with no power in their fridges at home. When the donations started piling up, Vance says they knew what needed to be done.
“We just started cooking and putting food out for folks,” she said.
“Right now, we’re just trying to help the folks who don’t have power, can’t cook,” Vance continued.
Meals are currently free at the Cranberry Street Cafe, hot and ready when you walk in — a piece of home in the middle of a nightmare.
“Growing up military, I didn’t really have a hometown of my own,” Morgan said. “Coming to Newland, this was the first place in my entire life that’s ever felt like home.”
Donations to the cafe can be made to their Cashapp. Their handle is the name of the cafe, Cranberry Street Cafe, all in one word.
Vikings fans were ecstatic to see their team beat the New York Jets.
FRIDLEY, Minn. — Vikings fans packed Forgotten Star Brewery early Sunday morning to watch the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets game in London.
Hundreds of people were at the Fridley brewery to watch the game on a 15-foot screen at 8:30 a.m. Hodgepodge food truck was also there serving up brunch specials for fans to have with a pint of beer.
“We were up at 4:30 this morning, ready to go, getting our gameday gear ready,” said Luke Drake. Luke got there at 6 a.m. with his wife Nicole to make sure they got a prime spot.
“Before we were together, I was a Vikings fan and not like a super crazy Vikings fan. [Now] we’re up like a 5, 6 a.m., on Sundays, and it’s like we’re ready to go, we’re in front of the TV and we’re ready for the game to start,” Nicole said.
If you can’t tell by Shannon Russell’s purple hair, she bleeds purple and gold.
“I just love football,” she said.
Russell didn’t grow up in a sports family and came across the Vikings by chance when she was 10 years old.
“I was just up watching cartoons one morning and saw the Vikings playing and not understanding what it was, and I just fell in love with it,” Russell said.
Her favorite player is No. 22.
“I love watching Harrison Smtih while he comes up and he’s like ‘Am I going to rush, I don’t know’ and then he just bails out and I love watching that,” she said.
Liz Johnson was also up early with her two kids, Henry and Alice.
“I like football. I like watching. I enjoy the surprises that come with it. I like Forgotten Star, so it’s a perfect place to be, snacks, food,” Henry said.
“It’s pretty cool because you can see the TVs over there, over there, you can look behind you and see it over there, and you can look right there and see it a giant screen,” Alice said.
Alice got creative to pass some of the time, making art with her hands.
“I’m making bracelets,” she said. “So, first you take the first one, twist it and put it around your fingers.”
Even though the kids were up early, the Johnsons wouldn’t have it any other way to watch their hometown town leave London with a win.
Police said the 7-year-old victim was skateboarding on Saturday night.
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