Burnsville Public Safety Memorial Day Service | Honoring Fallen Heroes
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - At 2 PM on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, city leaders and public safety officials gathered with the community to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Officers Paul Elmstrand, Matt Ruge, and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth. This Public Safety Memorial Day Service marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic events in Burnsville, Minnesota, where these heroes gave their lives while rescuing seven children during a domestic disturbance call.
Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, Councilmembers Dan Kealey, Dan Gustafson, and Vince Workman, along with City Manager Gregg Lindberg, Police Chief Tanya Schwartz, and Fire Chief BJ Jungmann, addressed the community, remembering the fallen and reaffirming their dedication to public safety.
In addition to the memorial service to commemorate their bravery and selflessness, the City of Burnsville, alongside its Police and Fire Departments, City Council, and city leadership, also have the following tributes:
Three wreaths will be displayed at City Hall for 24 hours, allowing community members to gather and pay their respects.
All Burnsville city buildings will be illuminated in blue and red as a tribute to first responders.
The City of Burnsville flag will be flown at half-mast on February 18.
“This day is a solemn reminder of the courage and sacrifice exhibited by Paul, Matt, and Adam,” said Mayor Kautz. “It is also an opportunity to thank our community and partners for their ongoing support and commitment to public safety.”
Provided by the City of Burnsville.
Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police Foundation Fundraiser
A reminder that the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has a fundraiser to help members of Burnsville’s police and fire departments, along with their families, plan to attend national memorial services later this spring. You can find our story on the fundraiser here: Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police Seeks Community Support to Honor Fallen Burnsville Heroes.
“Honoring the fallen is a privilege both within our local community and our larger national community,” said Kevin Rofidal from the MN FOP Foundation. “Attending memorial services is critical for the healing process of everyone touched by this tragedy. Getting a sense of shared support and closure is an essential part of the process. We are happy to do our part to ensure those who want to attend national memorials can do so without worry.”
To accommodate the memorial events, the regularly scheduled City Council meeting for February 18, 2025, has been rescheduled to February 25, 2025. All Burnsville city facilities will remain open during regular business hours on February 18th. The City of Burnsville encourages all residents to join in honoring the memories of Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Adam Finseth, whose bravery and dedication will never be forgotten.
Written by: Will Wight
