Woodbury Honors ‘Brilliant Attorney,’ 'Fierce Advocate’ Pete Orput

WOODBURY, MN — The Woodbury City Council on Wednesday night took a few moments to honor Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, who died April 3, shortly after learning he had stomach cancer.

Orput served for almost a dozen years as Washington County’s top prosecutor and built a reputation as a “champion of public safety” and a “fierce advocate for justice,” according to Brent Wartner, first assistant Washington County attorney.

Orput announced in 2020 that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He said in January that he planned to retire at the end of 2022 after completing his third term in office.

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Orput learned he had stomach cancer on March 23, 10 days before his death, KARE 11 reported. He was 66.

Tributes poured in from across Minnesota, while U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum also praised Orput’s work to establish veterans courts and fight the opioid epidemic.

The Woodbury City Council added to those messages of appreciation and gratitude Wednesday night in its first meeting since Orput’s death.

The City Council passed a resolution that recognized Orput’s service to Woodbury residents and lauded him as a “brilliant attorney with a straightforward style” who “dedicated himself to the pursuit of justice.”

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Orput “was a passionate champion for justice, a fierce advocate for victims and a compassionate force for giving people a second chance,” the resolution states.

The Woodbury City Council credited Orput for helping launch the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force, strengthening protections for victims through the Safe Harbor Program and establishing diversionary programs and a veterans court in Washington County.

“Pete Orput was a dedicated public safety partner who served his constituents with intelligence, compassion and whose influence made Woodbury a better place to live, work and thrive,” the Council’s resolution states.

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Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt said it was “hard to see” news of Orput’s death earlier this month.

“We knew some of his health issues with Parkinson’s, but I think his sudden passing was surprising to many,” Burt said, sharing her condolences for Orput’s family.

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