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Tuesday, July 30 is the 10th anniversary of the killing of Mendota Heights Police Officer Scott Patrick. A public memorial will happen at noon on Tuesday just south of the Smith and Dodd intersection in West St. Paul where Patrick died.
- There will be a moment of silence at 12:20 p.m., the moment Patrick was shot.
- Speakers will include Patrick’s widow Michele Patrick, Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko, and retired Mendota Heights Police Officer John Larrive.
Mendota Heights Police Chief Kelly McCarthy offered a reflection on grief on the anniversary of the killings of Scott Patrick and Beverly Cory, a Mendota Heights woman killed on July 29, 2017.
Permanent Memorial in the Works
The City of West St. Paul is in the process of designing a permanent memorial near the site of Patrick’s death. It will be part of the Smith/Dodd intersection realignment and was included in the federal funding for the project. The memorial will potentially be located in expanded park land as part of a public plaza.
- Timeline: The city hopes to have two concept designs by September and choose the final design later in the fall. Construction on the intersection happens in 2025, though the park space and the memorial likely won’t be completed until 2026.
- Input: “Officer Patrick’s family will have significant input on the design,” said Parks Director Eric Weiss, “Especially helping to identify design themes, images, and words that honor Officer Patrick and his legacy.” The wider community will also have an opportunity to give feedback on the memorial.
- Form: There is an existing memorial plaque in Mendota Heights, though West St. Paul envisions something different: “Our vision is that the memorial will be a welcoming, reflective space for the entire community,” said Weiss. “Our initial thought is to design the memorial in a fashion that uniquely speaks to Officer Patrick and the vision, hopes, and values of West St. Paul.”
Reflecting on 10 Years
“Sometimes, it still feels like yesterday,” said Michelle Patrick, reflecting on the years since her husband’s death in a Pioneer Press article on the anniversary. “Other times, it feels like it has been much longer.”
The article details the day of the fatal shooting, how the family is coping, and reflections on Scott Patrick’s life.
“His entire life seemed to be set up to do the best he can and enjoy doing work that he really wanted to do, then retire early and enjoy family life,” Scott’s brother Mike Brue told the Pioneer Press.
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