Fridley Officer Who Died in Plymouth Remembered

Many in Fridley are remembering Barry Pankonin after he tragically died in a motorcycle accident Aug. 21 near his home in Plymouth.

Pankonin is the second motorcycle death of an off-duty Fridley public safey official in less than six months, said Fridley Mayor Scott Lund. Fridley Firefighter Scott Allard died April 10 from injuries he sustained in a March 31 crash in Fridley.

Pankonin was "a genuinely nice guy," according to Fridley Police Lt. Mike Monsurd.

"Anybody who had any interaction with him came away with a smile," Monsrud said, adding that Pankonin also approached his duties with a smile.

Pankonin joined the Fridley Police Department about 12 and a half years ago, starting on Jan. 18, 2000. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard.

For three years he served as a detective, including serving as Fridley's first pawn detective, working with pawn shops.

"He broke the ground in that area," Monsrud said.

Pankonin also worked in a police capacity at the 2008 Republican National Convention hosted in St. Paul, Monsrud said. 

Monsrud said that over his own 23 years with the force, Pankonin is the first to die either off-duty or on-duty while serving as a current officer of the Fridley Police Department.

"It's a sad day for Fridley. I feel very bad," said Fridley Mayor Scott Lund about the off-duty death of Fridley Police Officer Barry Pankonin in an motorcycle crash Tuesday near his Plymouth home.

"I really respected him," Lund said. "He was our first pawn detective. His weekly status reports were entertaining and good reports."

Lund said he didn't know Pankonin well but that Pankonin was a "well-respected" member of the Fridley Police Department.

Lund said he planned to attend a debriefing about Pankonin's death scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Fridley Police Department. "We'll see what might be appropriate" as official acts of memorial on the part of the city, he said, such as calling for flags to fly at half-mast.

The mayor said he had offered the police department "anything" in terms of support or assistance from city government, and planned to attend Pankonin's funeral. Arrangements are pending.

Every member of the Fridley Police Department who wishes to attend the funeral will be able to, Lund said. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office has agreed to provide police services in Fridley for a 24-hour period that includes the funeral, Lund said.

Preparations are underway for a funeral for Fridley Police Officer Barry Pankonin that includes recognition of his service in local law enforcement and the U.S. military. 

Kevin Torgerson, commander of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA) honor guard, said his organiation would "try to get as many there as possible" from the 40 members of LEMA's guard.

Among the variables is military service and membership in veterans' organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion. (Pankonin was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, according to Fridley police.)

Torgerson said he anticipated Pankonin's funeral would include:

• a color team (carrying flags)
• a flag-folding ceremony (in recognition of military service)
• the playing of Taps
• a firing party

The LEMA honor guard provides a firing party only in the case of a line-of-duty funeral. However, Torgerson said he understood that other law enforcement  agencies may form a firing party for Pankonin's funeral.

"I want to say my condolences to his police department family as well as his personal-life family," Lund said.

The Fridley Police Department would like to thank the Plymouth Police and Fire Departments, North Ambulance and staff at North Memorial Hospital for their courageous efforts in trying to save our brother.

"On behalf of the Plymouth Police Department, Chief Michael Goldstein would like to extend his condolences to Barry’s family, friends and members of the Fridley Police Department," said Captain Jeff Swiatkiewicz.