Officer Down

Sergeant Joseph Bergeron, Maplewood MN Police Department was shot and killed at approximately 7:00 am 5/1/10 while attempting to question two men in connection with an earlier carjacking incident.

He located the men near the intersection of English Street and Arlington Avenue, in St. Paul, approximately 10 minutes after responding to reports of the carjacking. As he exited his patrol car one of the men approached him and immediately opened fire, fatally wounding him.

A passerby who heard the shots and witnessed the shooter running from the scene immediately went to Sergeant Bergeron's aide and used his radio to call for assistance. He was transported to Regions Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Approximately four hours after his shooting an officer assigned to the crime scene's perimeter noticed one of the suspects walking out of nearby woods near Ivy Avenue and Prosperity Avenue. The officer confronted the suspect, who then struck him in the face with the toolbox, breaking his nose and fracturing his eye sockets. The officer was able to fatally shoot the suspect during the ensuing struggle over control of the officer's weapon.

The second suspect surrendered to officers two hours later without further incident.

Sergeant Bergeron had served with the Maplewood Police Department for 26 years. He is survived by his wife and twin daughters.

Rest in Peace Bro…We’ll Continue The Watch

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.