Police Chief Reflects on Officers Who Saved Young Woman

Our respond to hundreds of traffic crashes every year. Fortunately, in most crashes the vehicle occupants suffer only minor injuries or are uninjured completely. Occasionally, the vehicle occupants are critically or fatally injured in a crash, but our officers rarely get to see or hear from the victims of a crash afterwards to see the real impact of their life saving actions at the scene. Last Monday night in our City Council Chambers, Officers Michelle Roberts and Jeff Hanson were given the unusual opportunity to meet a victim of a crash they had rendered first aid to and see her after two years of recovery.

This all started a few months ago when I received a call from Greg Skog, who explained that he was the father of Chelsea Skog, who had suffered critical, life threatening injuries in a serious crash in August of 2010 caused by a drunk driver who had crossed over the centerline and struck her vehicle head on. Greg Skog explained that he wanted to have all the officers who responded to the crash publically recognized at a City Council meeting for their life saving actions that had ultimately contributed to the survival and recovery of his daughter and her passenger, John Baker. Mr. Skog said that he had responded to the horrific crash scene that night and saw how professional and caring the officers were.

The original plan was to present the Chief’s Award of Merit, on behalf of the Skog family, to Officers Michelle Roberts and Jeff Hanson at the January 3rd City Council meeting, but late last week the Department was contacted by Governor Mark Dayton’s office. The Governor’s Office indicated that Governor Dayton was a family friend of the Skog’s and Chelsea and he wished to participate in the presentation of the LPD Chief’s Award of Merit to the officers.

During the presentation, Governor Dayton praised the officers for their actions at the scene of the crash and presented the LPD Chief’s Award of Merit certificates to Officer Roberts and Hanson as well as written commendation certificates to Officers Adam Stier, Ron Hvinden, and Mike Lamm, who were assisting officers at the crash. (Sergeant Steve Klehr, Officer Josh Berkebile and Officer Troy Hokanson also assisted, but were unable to attend.)

The officers were honored that Governor Dayton presented the awards, but deeply touched to see Chelsea again, now recovered from her injuries. The officers were also humbled that the victims and their family members had gone to such lengths to show their appreciation for the work they had done on this crash. Here is a media link on the event.)

Lakeville Officers Assist After Savage Crash

Last Sunday night Officers Jason Jensen and Jim Dronen responded to the City of Savage to assist with covering calls for a few hours after Savage Police Officer Frank Mackall was critically injured in a serious car crash. Officer Mackall was responding to a call when the squad crashed and he was airlifted from the scene. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Mackall and his family as well as the entire Savage Police Department at this difficult time.

Dumb Criminal of the Week

Officers responded to a residence late at night on a complaint of a loud party disturbing the neighborhood. When the officers arrived at the home, they spoke with the homeowner and advised him to quiet it down or they would return and issue him a summons for disturbing the peace.

The subject told the officers that he understood and that he would quiet it down. Apparently, he actually did not understand as the officers received another call to go back to the residence on loud music a short time later. This time the officers issued the subject a summons for disturbing the peace.