Richard S. Crittenden Sr.



As many of you already know by now this mission was unlike any other we have done. Make no mistake, every mission we have been invited too is equally important when it comes to Honor, Dignity and Respect. This mission was different because not only did Rick Crittenden serve our country, he served the community that he loved, the sacrifice he made was to protect that community. This week a big hurt has been put onto that community and all of his law enforcement brothers and sisters, we will never forget. The law enforcement community is a very tight group of individuals (Thin Blue Line) and for them to invite us to help honor one of their own was an honor.

(@) Pictures from mission by Dawn Sherwood

Below are the accounts of the visitation and funeral as we experienced it.

The Visitation-Thursday 9-10-09

The afternoon was very warm and muggy as we staged at the N. St. Paul American Legion, they had cordoned off an area for us to park. Soon it was time to conduct the briefing to the group of almost 60 Patriot Guard members gathered. Deb and I covered the housekeeping end of things as I thought it most appropriate to let Phil Pesheck talk about Officer Crittenden since Phil is a fellow brother of the law. As difficult as it was for Phil, as you can only imagine, he was able to speak about a man who gave his life protecting others, he spoke proudly about how Rick served our country and that we will never forget.

We proceeded to walk to the funeral home about a block away and formed our flagline surrounding the front of the small funeral home. As guests arrived it was a steady stream of law enforcement officers from communities all over the state of Minnesota. As they each waited their turn to enter the funeral home to pay their respects you could see it in their faces, both the anger of the senseless act and pain they were feeling as they had lost a member of their law enforcement family. A short time later Rick's LEO motor bike was rode in by one of his fellow officers and parked up in front of the funeral home on the sidewalk with a black scarf draped across the bike.

As the night went on the line of folks continued as the community came to say their goodbyes to a man they have come to know and trust. To all of his comrades Rick will be missed dearly as many looked to him not only as a friend but someone they could trust like a father and mentor.

The Funeral-Friday 9-11-09

The staging was held at the Woodland Hills church parking lot located just south of the Aldrich arena as parking in the immediate area would soon become a premium. Deb and I requested NW Metro RC Tim Leonhardt to handle the flagline for the funeral mission as we were heading up the motor escort involvement for the final procession. Deb and I proceeded to the arena to stage our bikes and to wait for Tim to lead the group over to form the flagline. As we waited we were in awe of the seamless never ending law enforcement vehicles arriving to the arena to take part in honoring their lost brother.

The scene was like nothing we had ever seen before with news crews crowded on a flatbed trailer with all their cameras to choppers in the sky's circling the arena. Platoons of police officers lined up in font of the arena waiting for the order to march inside to be seated. The time was 930am as we watched for the Patriot Guard to come over and form the flagline. We spotted the flags coming with over 100 people in all, it was a sight to see as you came in single file, flags flowing in the wind. As you approached it looked very professional and organized as it seemed so fitting with the formality displayed by the law enforcement community, which they indeed took notice, I will say more about that later.

As the flagline took it's place and settled in, what a sight to see, over 100 flags snapping to attention in the breeze. With a large group of bag pipers playing the platoons as officers started to enter the arena to get in place before the family arrived. The parking lot was a sea of law enforcement, I can tell you this much, it was one of the safest spots in the city!

10:45am, Governor Pawlenty arrived and we new the family would be there soon. With flags standing tall the procession that lead the family from the funeral home to the arena had arrived with several more LEO cars. The large lot that was already packed became that much more as they kept coming and filling any spot that would hold a car. With bag pipes playing the family and guests exited their cars as the honor guard took it's place. Then silence took over as they carried the Heros earn into the arena with the family following to begin the service for their lost loved one.

At the conclusion of the service the flagline had been moved to cover not only the front area but we were able to stretch the line almost two blocks down White Bear avenue, it was very impressive. As the arena emptied out and the honor Guard returned the Hero back to the hearse, the procession that would drive through the community was ready to go. Our six bikes would fall in place behind the 30 or more motor patrol made up of St. Paul, State Patrol and many other agencies. As we made our way throughout the city there were hundreds and hundreds of people lining the streets. The entire N. St. Paul High school was out to pay their respects to the fallen officer as well as small schools we passed. It was very clear that the city of N. St. Paul lost someone close to them all.

After the 30 minute procession we pulled back into the arena area where an outside area was designated for the final ceremony. After they parked the family and guests and they were all seated it was time for them to prepare to say their final farewell. Ricks squad car was parked in front of the gathering of family with the light bar shrouded in black. At the conclusion of the words of the gospel the honor Guard Sgt. shouted out the commands for all officers to come to attention and he shouted out commands for rifle squad as they rendered their 21 gun salute with a 3 shot volley. Then the sounding of taps which was done using two buglers giving it an echo effect, it was beautiful. At this point both of us were struggling to see through our tears then the heart stopping sound of the Minneapolis Police band bag pipers playing Amazing Grace which made the hair on the back of our necks stand up. Then there was silence and the lights on Officer Crittendens squad car lit up and a radio dispatchers voice was broadcast over a loud speaker to the entire crowd of thousands as well as reaching all squads cars across the state of MN. The dispatcher called out for officer Crittenden's squad car........(pause of silence)........she called for his squad car a second time............(pause of Silence), then she announced his date of birth and being born into the law enforcement community and how much he will be greatly missed by all. She then called out his squad car number one last time saying, Officer Crittenden is 10-7 (out of service) and that he has reached EOT (End of Tour) at that moment the lights of the squad car shut off, a silent moment stilled the area, and then the Honor Guard Sgt. shouted and ordered, all officers dismissed ending the ceremony of honor.

Total attendance over 4500 of which over 1400 were law enforcement officers. 104 Patriot Guard had signed in.

Addendum from Phil Pesheck,

To dovetail into Jeff's mission debrief, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the overwhelming turnout at Thursday night's visitation and yesterday's funeral for Rick Crittenden. It has been an emotional week for law enforcement in our state but the support and outreaching of the community and the members of the Minnesota Patriot Guard for the officers of the North St. Paul Police Department, Rick Crittenden's family and his fellow law enforcement brothers and sisters was deeply touching.

Experiencing this week's events from both the police officer perspective as well as that of a member of the Minnesota Patriot Guard was humbling for me and has given me memories and images that I will never forget. When the single-file line of Patriot Guard members came walking over to the arena from the staging area to form the flag line, I was standing in formation with officers from my department waiting to file into the arena. One of my fellow officers turned to me and said "seeing all those flags, the lump in my throat just got a lot bigger."

After the service was over, I was headed out of the arena towards my motorcycle to prepare for the procession. By now,the flag line had been shifted and lined both sides of the route the procession would take out of the parking lot and extended down White Bear Avenue. I knew the plan and expected to see the flags exactly where they were, but the sight of the flag line members standing in quiet reference and all those flags snapping in the breeze brought a lump to my throat. I quickly changed out of my uniform and donned my Patriot Guard vest and prepared for the funeral procession.

One of my proudest moments ever occurred earlier this week when Jeff Good was contacted by the Crittenden family's representative and told that the family wanted to include the Minnesota Patriot Guard in the funeral procession. I'm at a loss for words to describe the honor they bestowed upon us to include us in the procession.

Upon returning from the procession we quickly parked our bikes and walked to the site for the committal ceremony. The ceremony was held on a grassy area in the shade of a large oak tree. Blanketing this area were 2,000 law enforcement officers from all over the mid-west.....a sea of dark blue, powder blue, brown and maroon uniforms. And of course, the red, white and blue of our brothers and sisters in the flag line.

There was Rick Crittenden's squad car, a riderless horse with the boots reversed in the stirrups to represent a fallen leader looking back on his troops for the last time, the ever-emotional music of the bagpipes, the final roll call for Officer Crittenden broadcast statewide over police frequencies.....it will all live with me forever......and one more sound in the background of all of these events that has become a true friend of mine.....the sound of American flags waving in the breeze.

I have received nearly two dozen emails from police officers around the metro area as well as from around the state thanking us for being there, for taking the time to pay our respects and for honoring their fallen comrade. From my heart, I extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to all of you for being there this week.

Jeff & Deb Comments

Deb and I would like to first off thank everyone of you, the members that took time out of their day to help show Honor, Dignity and Respect to Veteran/LEO Richard Crittenden, without your support we could not do what we do. Thank you.

We can't begin to tell you the MN PGR members and leadership what kind of impression you made on the entire law enforcement community and how thankful they were to all of you for showing the respect you gave to one of their fallen comrades. Many of us were approached by several different officers wanting us to pass on their gratitude for you being there and how much it meant to them. Deb and I had many LEO's tell us they wanted to join our group, I had one officer tell me that the MNPGR is a lot like them as a group, very respectable. I can say this much, the MN Patriot Guard has always had a good relationship with LEO's but after Friday it was bumped up several notches to another level as many of them told us if we ever need anything they are there for us.

Deb and I have said it before and we will say it again, we are so proud and privileged to be associated with a group of folks such as yourselves, you made us so proud, Thank You all!!

I would personally like to thank Phil Pesheck for his assistance in the planning as parts of this was difficult for him, it hits very close to home being part of the law enforcement community himself. Thanks Phil for riding in the escort.

Thank you to Tim Leonhardt for all your help with the flagline, also to John Redfield, Larry Myslicki, Joe Eagan, Joe Fucile, Dawn Sherwood, John Daher for all your help and all you do. Without the leadership team effort we could not have done this, if we missed anyone sorry.