News from the Foundation
We have some sad news to share. During the weekend of August 24th, the Minneapolis Police Mounted Unit said farewell to Diego after he was injured and needed to be put down. Diego was a 21-year-old Tennessee Walker who joined the unit in 2009. He worked hundreds of shifts and was one of the MPD’s best police horses. Diego will be missed and fondly remembered by all who know him.
We met our goal to work 11 Twins games this season! Our volunteers raised $4287.59 for the Honor Guard and Color Guard and Mounted Police Foundations.
Many thanks to Paula Barrette, Al Bird, Colleen Bird, Tammy Diepenbrock, Rick Doll, Julie Ludwig Woods and Amy Sizer for their excellent work!
We have a tremendous sense of accomplishment and we hope that you will join us next year.
Many thanks to Delaware North and the Minnesota Twins for their generous support of our foundation!
We are honored and grateful to be the recipient of a $200 gift from the South St Paul Branch of Bremer Bank. This is a milestone and the first sponsorship we have received for our 2020 National Police Week activities in Washington, DC. Thank you Bremer Bank!
Appointed February 15, 1923 – End of Watch: June 7, 1944
Each Minneapolis Police recruit class chooses a fallen officer to whose service and memory they dedicate their training.
The current recruit class has chosen to honor Sergeant John W O’Neil who was killed in the line of duty on June 7, 1944.
The recruit class selected Sergeant O’Neil because he died one day after the D-Day invasion and they thought that his sacrifice may not have been adequately recognized at the time due to the understandable focus on the D-Day invasion.
Sergeant O’Neil drowned while trying to recover a canoe after it went over St. Anthony Falls. Two of the three men in the canoe were also killed.
Sergeant O’Neil had been with the department for 21 years. He was survived by his wife Gladys and their three children John, Thomas and Sandra.
Sergeant O’Neil’s funeral was held on Saturday, June 10th, at Saint Helena’s Church at 43rd Street and 33rd Avenue South. He was buried in Sunset Memorial Park. He was escorted by the Minneapolis Police Honor Guard.
A memorial fund for the family of Sergeant O’Neil was created by the Minneapolis Civic & Commerce Association. “Sergeant O’Neil lost his life because he was serving the city beyond the requirements of duty,” the president of the association said in announcing the fund. “Although he was entitled to retirement with a life income, he chose to remain during the manpower shortage resulting from the inroads of war.”
This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Sergeant O’Neil’s death.
We are in the process of locating members of the extended O’Neil family to invite them to a small ceremony to be given in his honor this December.
Great news! If you shop using Amazon Smile, you can now direct your contribution to our organization. Just search for “Minneapolis Police Honor Guard” and make us your default selection. As always, we appreciate your support!
We had a wonderful time this spring as non-profit volunteers at 10 Twins games! We sold pretzels, popcorn and nachos in exchange for donations to our Minneapolis Mounted Police and Minneapolis Police Honor Guard and Color Guard Foundations. Thank you for your continued support!
On June 23, 2018, the Wayzata Free Church will be hosting a citywide 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run. All funds raised from this event will benefit MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA).
Kids (7 and younger) have the opportunity to run alongside local law enforcement officers and receive a participation prize.
For more information visit:
The Minneapolis Police Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office held a Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony outside of City Hall to honor the 70 officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty in Hennepin County since 1884.
Please join the Minneapolis Police Honor Guard at 7:00 PM at the Candlelight Service honoring Minnesota Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty. The Candlelight Ceremony takes place at the Law Enforcement Memorial at 645 Cedar St, St Paul, MN 55155. It is one of many memorial ceremonies occurring across the nation on Peace Officers Memorial Day 2019.
Please join the Minneapolis Police Honor Guard at 12:00 PM on May 15, 2019 as it honors officers from the Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County who have been killed in the line of duty. This ceremony takes place in the Rotunda of Minneapolis City Hall. It is one of many events taking place across the nation on Peace Officers Memorial Day 2019.