One year later, Burnsville first responders remain resilient in face of grief

NINA MOINI: Today marks one year since Burnsville lost three first responders in the line of duty. Police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, as well as firefighter paramedic Adam Finseth were killed while responding to a domestic violence call. Here's Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz one year ago, shortly after the incident.

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TANYA SCHWARTZ: Our police officers and our fire paramedics, they come to work every day. They do it willingly. They know that they might have to give up their life for their partners, for someone else. They know they have to give up their life sometime, and they do it anyways. And you cannot understand it if you're not in the profession.

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NINA MOINI: Today, the city will hold a memorial to honor and remember those first responders. Joining me now to reflect on the last year is Burnsville Police Deputy Chief Matt Smith. Thank you for being here, Deputy Chief.

MATT SMITH: Thanks for having me.

NINA MOINI: And also joining us is Burnsville Fire Chief BJ Jungmann. Thank you as well for being here, Chief.

BJ JUNGMANN: Thanks for having us today.

NINA MOINI: Today, it's been a year. It's hard to believe. And people are talking about it again in the news. But I'm very aware that you all have been experiencing this tragedy on a very deep and personal level every day since it happened. So I do very much appreciate your time and coming on and just updating us on how folks are doing in the community. And Deputy Chief Smith, if I could start with you, could you talk a little bit about how this last year has been for you and in terms of just supporting other officers in the last year?

MATT SMITH: Yeah, the year has gone really slowly as we've gone to all these events and memorials and trying to make sure we're honoring the guys, and also trying to take care of our folks. And I think that's what's been so important.

And I'm really proud of the resilience that all our people here in both the police and the fire department have shown to come back. Everybody that was working that day is back working, and everybody is taking care of each other, and we're trying to look out for each other's mental health and wellness.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. And I would ask the same question to you, Chief Jungmann, just in terms of what it's been like and what you all have been doing to support one another over the last year.

BJ JUNGMANN: Yeah. As Deputy Chief Smith said, it's been a long year. There's been a lot of events. It's a constant, right? You've lost one of your friends, one of your colleagues. And trying to never forget and honor them while we continue to fulfill the mission and protect the community.

So I mean, day in and day out, both the police and firefighters are still providing the highest level of service to the community, so they continue to put that mission first. And as Deputy Chief Smith said, very proud of our folks and their resilience to come back and continue to serve, but at the same time leaning on each other and making it OK.

And I think one of the highlights we had was both police and fire had an embedded mental health professional in each department, and that's been very helpful to have people that have a resource that can help them through the stages of grief. And everybody traverses this a little bit differently, so having that trained professional as well as having peer supporters and teams together to support each other has been super helpful.

NINA MOINI: Yeah, that does sound very helpful. At the end of the last year here on Minnesota Now, we talked with the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association, as well as the Minnesota Chapter for Concerns of Police Survivors. And their representatives talked as well about just the importance of not only supporting members of law enforcement, but of course supporting the families who survived this tragedy and keeping the memory of their loved ones alive.

If you want to share, could you tell us a little bit about how your departments have been leaning into helping these families cope throughout the last year? I'll start with you, Deputy Chief Smith.

MATT SMITH: Yeah, we've definitely grown closer with these families. And I think-- so in May, each year is Police Week out in Washington, DC. And the names of Paul Elmstrand and Matt Ruge will be etched into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. And we're going to have their families travel with us out to Washington, DC.

And I think while each story that's told out there is its own and is different, I think there is a healing component for the families and the coworkers to be around other people who have been through something similar. So I think that will be a really important part of that healing here.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. And Chief Jungmann, I grew up in Apple Valley, which neighbors Burnsville for people who may not know. So I see the decals and the signs and the stickers. This is very much front of mind for people in the community still. But I am curious if you felt like this incident has brought you all closer to other surrounding agencies, just other law enforcement. I'm sure there's a bond that exists. But after something like this, can you describe some of that support and how that's felt?

BJ JUNGMANN: Yeah, for sure. I mean, we have a great working relationship with all the cities that surround us and all the ambulance services and fire departments. So we're very fortunate to have that relationship pre-established.

And then after this, there wasn't anybody that didn't answer the phone and come help us. I mean, for two weeks, the police and fire departments were not responding to calls. We had partners in the public safety community covering for us, and they did that at a drop of a hat. And so the public safety community has been very supportive of us with anything we need, and that has been comforting and reassuring and been a great support system.

And then just community-wide, the impact. You talked about the stickers and the signs and stuff. People have come out to support us in many ways, and it's very much appreciated. And it's been a bit overwhelming to try to comprehend how much this impacted people.

NINA MOINI: Yeah. And to that end, Matt, can you tell us a little bit about the memorial that's happening today and if folks can attend and what they could expect?

MATT SMITH: Yeah. We have some wreaths laid out out front of the city hall and in the city hall council chambers, as well as outside at the fire stations. At 2 o'clock today, there's going to be a press conference in the city council chambers where the police and fire chiefs will speak, some members of the city council, the mayor, and city leadership. And it's streaming online. And also, the public can come remember the guys here as well.

NINA MOINI: And before I let both of you go-- and I'll start with you again, Matt-- is there anything that you would want to take a moment and just share or say in memory of Paul and Matthew that's brought you maybe joy in the last year?

MATT SMITH: You know, I think first of all, we thank the community. The community support's been outstanding. I remember these guys. I said it at the memorial, and it's cliche, but it's completely the truth. All three of these guys were truly the nicest guys, and they all had these smiles and these laughs. They were funny. And so we try to remember them and also move forward with the hope that they would want us to have.

NINA MOINI: And BJ, anything similar that you would want to share about Adam Finseth?

BJ JUNGMANN: Yeah, I would echo Deputy Chief Smith's comments. We're very much appreciative of all the support we've gotten from the community. And all three of these guys were the nicest folks, dedicated public servants. Adam also served in the military, so this was kind of his second tour of duty of serving the public. And we're fortunate to have a close bond between our police and fire departments.

So although we wear different patches, we work so well together that the loss of all three of these guys has rocked both departments' foundation. And all three of them were very professional and very good at their jobs, and it's a huge loss to lose them in such a tragedy.

NINA MOINI: [SIGH] Well, we wish you well with the services and the memorial that's happening today and in the year ahead. Deputy Chief Matt Smith and Burnsville Fire Chief BJ Jungmann, thank you both so much for joining Minnesota Now.

MATT SMITH: Thank you.

BJ JUNGMANN: Thank you.

NINA MOINI: Thanks. That was Burnsville Police Chief, again, Deputy Chief Matt Smith and Burnsville Fire Chief BJ Jungmann. We'll be covering the memorial this afternoon, and we'll have coverage on All Things Considered starting at 3:00 PM and online at mprnews.org.