Richard Scott Crittenden Sr., 57, was a nine-year veteran of the North St. Paul Police Department and a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran. He previously served with the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office and was described as a fatherly presence who used humor to put younger colleagues at ease.

On the morning of September 7, 2009, Crittenden responded to a domestic disturbance where a woman reported a man was violating a protection order. When Crittenden and a Maplewood Police officer arrived at a North Saint Paul apartment, the male suspect confronted them and attempted to attack the woman. During a struggle to protect her, the suspect gained control of Crittenden’s service weapon and shot him, fatally wounding the officer. The Maplewood officer was shot in the arm but returned fire, killing the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Devon Dockery. Crittenden was the first North St. Paul officer killed in the line of duty.