St. Paul Police Department renames building after officer killed 30 years ago
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Monday marked 30 years since St. Paul Police Officer Ron Ryan Jr. was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Ryan responded to a call of a person sleeping in a car in a church parking lot in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. It was just after 7 a.m., and as Ryan got out, he was shot several times. Ryan died later at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center.
The suspect fled and during a manhunt later that day, the suspect shot and killed St. Paul police officer Tim Jones and his K9 partner Laser. The shooter was later caught and arrested. He’s spending life in prison.
Monday afternoon, Ryan’s family, his friends and hundreds of police officers and firefighters gathered for the unveiling of the newly named Ron Ryan Jr. Eastern District office on Payne Avenue.
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“Today we stand together not just to remember but to reaffirm our commitment to carrying forward the legacy of Ron Ryan Jr. and Tim Jones, even though none of the officers working in this district today were on the job in 1994 and frankly, some weren’t even born yet, these men's spirits live on in the work that we do every day,” said Eastern District Chief Salim Omari.
The Eastern District’s atrium is now painted inside with a mural of Ron Ryan, Jr. on the right side and the words “Ron Ryan Jr. Eastern District” on the wall above the main doors.
“The renaming of this building to the Ron Ryan Jr. Eastern District and the mural that now graces our lobby ensure that Ron and Tim's sacrifices will never be forgotten,” Omari said.
Ryan’s widow, Ann Kluender, who has since remarried, talked about walking in to see the mural of Ryan for the first time.
“You walk in the door and you see him all up and full of life in 3D, big and it’s hard not to get emotional,” she said. “He was an amazing man, a life taken way, way too early and way too senselessly. And I was grateful to be able to share it with him when we did, and we had a very wonderful time when we were together.”
Ryan’s sister Maria Hanggi said they are grateful for the renaming.
“I know there are a lot of people out here that are family and friends who are present, who knew Ronnie very well. Ronnie would think this is great, wouldn’t he? He’d be like a building with my name and photos and images all over it. He would completely eat this up. So you did good for him,” Hanggi said.
He followed his father, Ron Ryan, Sr. into the St. Paul Police Department.
“You sit over the kitchen table and you hear stories from work and about the job. It’s just working for the people, and it’s a fun, good job also,” Ryan Jr. said in an interview when he was sworn in. Soon after, he was awarded the Medal of Merit after he and other officers rescued three young children from a burning house.
Hanggi called Ryan the life of the party who cared deeply about people.
“Ronnie was very proud to be an officer in the city he grew up in,” she said. “He loved working with my dad and many of his friends who are here today, who he grew up watching. He made many great friendships on the force, and he did great work.”
Hanggi said the St. Paul Police Department has included her family and been thoughtful about them through the years.
“I look out into the audience now, and I see many people who have been a huge part of our life,” she said. “The St. Paul Police Department brought many of us together. What a joy. We feel very supported, included and loved by all of you. What a gift to be able to call the St. Paul Police Department our extended family.
“So to all officers: be safe, thank you for your work, your service does not go unnoticed,” she said.
The St. Paul Police Canine Training Center was named in honor of Tim Jones in 1997.