Against a backdrop of fatal shootings and other violence that has heightened police and civilians' nerves across the Twin Cities in recent weeks, hundreds saluted Minnesota's police forces at a Coon Rapids rally Friday night.
Police officers saluted at Coon Rapids citizens' rally
The event was meant to counter "Black Lives Matter" protests critical of police.
The Law Enforcement Appreciation Event, meant as a counterpoint to "Black Lives Matter" protests critical of police, drew a crowd ranging from everyday citizens to Anoka County law enforcement's top brass.
Missy Rumble, the daughter of a retired Coon Rapids police officer, planned the free concert and rally after watching news accounts of officers gunned down on the job. The Blaine administrative assistant said she floated the idea with community members and support for a pro-police rally was immediate and overwhelming.
"It's great all these people want to show their support for the police," Rumble said. "Everyone is really excited about it. Everyone wants to help."
Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeff Lunde and Coon Rapids Mayor Jerry Koch drifted through the crowd. Both said they came to show support for their officers.
Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart and Coon Rapids Police Chief Brad Wise addressed the overflow crowd at Coon Rapids American Legion Post 334. Organizers held a moment of silence for Aitkin Sheriff's Deputy Steven M. Sandberg, who was shot and killed in the line of duty Sunday. His funeral was held earlier in the day Friday.
"I am humbled and overwhelmed by the number of people here. Thank you," said Wise. "I want young people to know this profession is good. It's an honorable, noble profession worth pursuing."
Stuart told the crowd he was pressured not to attend the event, but said he supports deputies and officers who give up evenings and weekends and risk their lives to protect others.
"I am confident the vast majority of law enforcement officers take this job for the right reasons and are good people," Stuart said. "Our protectors are not our enemies. … Police lives matter. It does not mean police lives matter more."
The crowd erupted in applause during parts of Stuart's speech.
Brother and sister Pam Sweeney and Bruce Johnson arrived when the doors opened, saying they wanted to show support for police during an era when cops are sometimes painted as the bad guys. They understand the risks cops take and the sacrifices cops and their families make.
In 1972, their father, Roseville Police officer Howard Johnson, was shot and killed by a fleeing bank robber. Sweeney said her dad responded to the call while on his lunch break — evidence, she said, of his kindness and commitment. She worries that young people these days believe police are the enemies.
"We were never afraid of the cops like kids are now, or thought they were out to get us. I think some young people are taught to hate cops," Sweeney said. "I think a lot of people do support their local officers. They have never been given a platform to show support. Missy [Rumble] has offered us this platform."
Donations and some proceeds will go to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a charity honoring fallen officers.
Originally, Rumble called the event Police Lives Matter, a play on the Black Lives Matter movement that emerged in 2013 to protest police brutality against black Americans.
Rumble said she changed the name after the sheriff fielded some complaints.
Rumble said she had no opinion on the Black Lives Matter group, but said she'd rather support than protest.
Nationwide, some Black Lives Matter supporters have criticized the refrain "All Lives Matter" and other variations on their name, arguing that it ignores decades of institutional racism and police brutality.
Shannon Prather • 612-673-4804
![Ella Nguyen, 9, and her mother Jessie Warren, of Andover, were greeted by Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart at a pro-police rally Friday at the American Legion Post in Coon Rapids.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/GKFVLAA6RCN323DHD73SY37PJU.jpg?&w=712)
![Julie Bayer took donations and handed out blue ribbons to attendees of Friday night's pro-police rally in Coon Rapids. ] (AARON LAVINSKY/STAR TRIBUNE) aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com A pro-police rally and concert in was held at the American Legion Post in Coon Rapids on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/F3IP3FVCILHWRU3GPKG4EEIXDQ.jpg?&w=712)
![Some of the few hundred attendees at Friday night’s pro-police rally in Coon Rapids applauded Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart as he addressed the crowd.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/7XLDL2ESQLLUQLTZYA37OQX6GE.jpg?&w=712)
![From left, Coon Rapids Police explorer Jason Ford, reserve officer Courtney Nothnagel and explorer Norkhadijah Lindgren were some of the attendees of Friday night's pro-police rally in Coon Rapids. ] (AARON LAVINSKY/STAR TRIBUNE) aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com A pro-police rally and concert in was held at the American Legion Post in Coon Rapids on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/JF6H5H4CULIY5ZL3WB55PI7AGA.jpg?&w=712)
The police chief for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe said that the skeletons were naturally exposed by erosion.