Community Invited To Honor Officer Patrick During Processional Wednesday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Memorial services for Officer Scott Patrick are planned for Wednesday morning.
The funeral service will be held at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in West St. Pau, Minn.
It will be a private ceremony for family, friends and the Mendota Heights police department.
But the community will have the opportunity to pay their respects over the nearly eight mile route to Officer Patrick's final resting place.
The ever growing memorial at Smith and Dodd shows the grief of a community.
"Just the outpouring in the community is really beautiful," Betsy Faber, of West St. Paul, said.
Wednesday will mark one week since a senseless act took the life of Officer Scott Patrick and his farewell will come with full police honors.
"He deserves our respect. He deserves our memory. And his family deserves support, not only this week, but for years to come," Captain Kevin Torgerson of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association Honor Guard said.
The last goodbyes will start at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church which is his family's long time place of worship.
It's there that thousands of law enforcement officers will gather to lead a procession to Officer Patrick's final resting place at Acacia Park Cemetery.
"Even though I don't know him, I know I want to honor him because he was doing the same simple things I do," Capt. Torgerson said.
The 7.8 mile path will weave throughout Mendota Heights, giving plenty of opportunity for the community to pay tribute.
"We're trying to present this sort of cocoon, this big group hug so-to-speak, that is surrounding the family and officers," Capt. Torgerson said.
The hope is his family sees well-wishers fill every inch of the route, as they take part in Officer Patrick's final roll call.
"Do not leave, stay there, because the people that need your support, from the community on side of the road, are the people that come last," Capt. Torgerson said.
The funeral starts at 11:00 a.m. and will last upwards of an hour. To see the whole procession, you're encouraged to be along that route by 12:30 p.m. The family is expected to arrive at the cemetery just before 1:30 p.m. The community is encouraged to bring flags and signs of support along the funeral route.
