PHOTOS: Fridley Police Honor Fallen at Anoka Cty. Law Enforcement Memorial

Law-enforcement departments from across Anoka County began the county's annual memorial service for fallen officers Wednesday with a squad-car procession that left from Fridley.

The site, near the Church of St. William, was where Deputy Ernest Zettergren was killed nearly 50 years ago—one of seven officers in Anoka County to lose their lives in the line of duty.

Sheriff James Stuart led a ceremony in the atrium at the Anoka County government center in Anoka.

Attending the ceremony from the Fridley Police Department were Director of Public Safety Don Abbott, Lt. Mike Monsrud, Capt. Bob Rewitzer, Capt. Brian Weierke and Off. Joe Magana.

Here's the account of Zettergren's death from the catalog to the Anoka County Historical Society exhibit "Law & Ladders":

Deputy Ernest H. Zettergren
Anoka County Sheriff's Office
End Watch - December 7, 1953

Deputy Zettergren was patrolling in Fridley when he noticed activity inside a closed tavern on University Avenue. He called in the license plate of the suspect's car and, minutes later, did not respond to radio calls.

Information from Francis Anderson, the assailant, said Anderson saw the squad car when he came out of the tavern. The door was open and Anderson said Deputy Zettergren had his gun out and told Anderson to "come here." Anderson was armed. He said he got close, took the gun away from the Deputy and shot him with it. Then he ran, but the license place check Deputy Zettergren had requested was able to identify Anderson. Two teen boys found Deputy Zettergren dead several hours later while doing their morning paper route.

Anderson was charged with 2nd degree murder.