Year in Review – Top Columbia Heights stories, #5: Rededicated plaque honors CH officer
A monument rededicated in 2012 honors a fallen Columbia Heights officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Columbia Heights Police provided an opportunity for residents to attend a community gathering during a July 25 picnic at Ramsdell Park.
The rededicated plaque at Ramsdell Park in Columbia Heights. (File photo by Kassie Petermann – Sun Newspapers)
At the beginning of the picnic, the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) performed a ceremony that rededicated a granite monument that honors Officer Curtis John Ramsdell.
The park was recently improved and is named after Ramsdell, who was shot in the line of duty on July 30, 1977, while transporting a prisoner to the Anoka County Jail. The prisoner shot Ramsdell in the stomach while Ramsdell was attempting to remove him from the jail booking area.
He was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries, and it was determined that the suspect had retrieved a concealed .25 caliber handgun during the transport.
An Anoka County jailer was also shot and wounded. The suspect was apprehended and convicted of second-degree murder.
Ramsdell had been with the Columbia Height Police Department for 14 years.
Columbia Heights Police Chief Scott Nadeau said the monument was purchased and installed in 1977 on Mill Street in front of the police department. The monument was refurbished through donations from the Ramsdell family and other donors.
During the ceremony, the LEMA Honor Guard presented an American Flag, and Mayor Gary Peterson’s granddaughter, Kelly Jackson, sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”
“Dad would be very humbled and honored to have this park named after him,” said Tom, Ramsdell’s son. “It’s an honor to have this. I appreciate everybody coming out.”
The LEMA Honor Guard Rifle Team performed the three-volley salute, and the bugle call taps was played.
