05/13/2026
It’s here again! Sadly Minnesota is adding additional names to the National Memorial Wall in Washington DC. National Police Week holds a very special space in my heart and the hearts of my family and so many friends. My brother, Officer Jason Meyer, was killed in the line of duty on September 6, 1999. Our first visit as a family to DC was in May of 2000. That was the year his name was etched into the wall of the memorial for eternity. He was honored by thousands and always remembered to this day. 💙
🕊️ National Police Week 2026 | Honoring the Fallen at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service
This week, as law enforcement officers, families, and supporters gather in Washington, D.C., for National Police Week and the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, we pause to remember every hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Every name etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial matters. Every life lost protecting our communities leaves a void that can never be filled. But this year, three fallen officers carry special meaning for the State of Minnesota.
Detention Deputy Richard Erhardt “Rich” Legler�
Anoka County Sheriff's Office
�On the early morning of August 9, 1986, 38-year-old Deputy Legler (a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran with three years on the job) was driving to work at the Anoka County Jail alongside a fellow deputy. On Highway 10 west of Clear Lake, a vehicle pulled alongside and opened fire in a targeted ambush. A rifle round struck Deputy Legler in the left arm behind his uniform patch, piercing his lung. He fought to pull the vehicle over but succumbed to his injuries. The suspect later took his own life. Deputy Legler left behind a wife and family who still feel his absence today.
Police Officer Felicia Dee Reilly
Saint Paul Police Department
�In March 2010, Officer Reilly responded to a 911 hang-up call at a residence. A suspect attacked her without warning, knocking her to the ground and kicking her repeatedly in the head. The brutal assault caused a severe traumatic brain injury that ended her career and required 15 years of courageous fight. On March 1, 2025, Officer Reilly succumbed to those line-of-duty injuries. She was the first woman in St. Paul Police Department history to die from injuries sustained in the line of duty. Her strength, service, and quiet resilience will never be forgotten.
Agent David Christopher “Chris” Maland�
US Border Patrol
Minnesota Native | Born in Blue Earth
�A proud son of Minnesota and U.S. Air Force veteran who stood watch at the Pentagon on 9/11, Agent Maland dedicated his life to protecting our nation’s borders. On January 20, 2025, while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 91 near the Canadian border in Vermont, he was shot and killed in the line of duty. At age 44, he was the first Border Patrol agent killed in over a decade. His remains were escorted home to Minnesota and laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Minnesota will forever claim this hero as our own.
These three Minnesota heroes represent the courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of law enforcement in our state. We carry their stories with us this week and every day.
To their families, friends, and brother and sister officers: you are not alone. Minnesota FOP stands with you. National Fraternal Order of Police
🇺🇸
Never forget. Always remember.
