Burnsville Honors Fallen Heroes with Public Safety Memorial Day
Provided by the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police GoFundMe.
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - The City of Burnsville has officially designated February 18 as Public Safety Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for three dedicated public servants who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, along with Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth, lost their lives on February 18, 2024, while protecting seven children during a domestic situation.
On Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, Burnsville Mayor Kautz signed the proclamation establishing February 18th as Public Safety Memorial Day, ensuring that the community continues honoring these fallen heroes' service, sacrifice, and courage.
“Our community continues to heal from the loss of Paul, Matt, and Adam,” said Police Chief Tanya Schwartz. “By recognizing their ultimate sacrifice and honoring their memories, we hope to build upon the healing process. Burnsville will not forget these brave men, their courage, selflessness, and dedication to our community.”
The city will host a memorial event at Burnsville City Hall on February 18, 2025 to mark the occasion. Three wreaths will be placed at City Hall for 24 hours, allowing community members to gather and pay their respects. Additionally, all Burnsville city buildings will be illuminated in blue and red on the evenings of February 17th and 18th. The City of Burnsville flag will also be flown at half-mast in honor of the fallen.
City officials, including the City Council and leadership, will provide public comments in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 2:00 p.m. on February 18, 2025.
“We thank our community for their unwavering support of our public safety teams,” said Fire Chief Jungmann. “Our community has shared in our grief, and they have lifted our spirits throughout this difficult time. We are grateful for the support they have shown since that tragic day.”
Following the tragedy, the support of both the community and partner public safety agencies played a crucial role in helping Burnsville navigate forward.
“Our public safety partners from across the state stepped up with remarkable dedication. We are grateful for their skill and compassion in serving our residents,” said Chief Schwartz. “The public safety community stands united in the knowledge that we never walk alone, a truth that was especially evident a year ago. We truly appreciate the unwavering support of our public safety partners for our teams and our community. Together, we are stronger and more resilient.”
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. Overflow parking will be available across the street at the ice center parking lot for those attending the event at City Hall.
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.
Provided by the City of Burnsville.
