Thanks to Block Portrait Studios and Inver Grove Ford for their support.
Master Sergeant Larry Raasch of the West St. Paul Police Reserve Officers program volunteered over 4,000 hours for the city. He recently passed away at the age of 77.
“I’m sure it was a whole lot more than that,” Police Chief Brian Sturgeon told KARE 11. “He really cared about this department and this community.”
- Raasch originally volunteered with the St. Paul police reserves, but shifted to West St. Paul in 1999 because he lived in West St. Paul and wanted to give back to this community.
- He received the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achivement Award in recognition of his years of service.
- Raasch was a Vietnam veteran. He was stationed in Germany as a medic.
Age: At 77, Raash was easily the oldest reserve officer. “His age didn’t keep him down, he was always available to help us out,” said Sturgeon.
Why: “He loved this community, that’s what it was,” Sturgeon said. “He loved the community, loved the department, he loved the city, he loved his neighbors, he loved the business owners in town, and he just wanted to give back. That’s why he was doing what he was doing.”
“Nobody is going to fill Larry’s shoes,” Sturgeon said. “He’s one of a kind, that’s for sure. And he’s going to be greatly missed.”
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