Watch Live: Public memorial underway for 3 fallen Burnsville first responders

Coworkers of the three first responders spoke at the memorial, recounting memories of their fallen friends.

Officer Pete Mueller, who began his career at the Burnsville Police Department alongside Matthew Ruge, described their early days at the department together. They started in 2020, during a pandemic and unrest, and worked the same shift. 

“His sense of humor and unwavering desire to make a difference immediately earned my respect,” Mueller said. 

Ruge had a lot of nicknames —”Roguie” and “the Book,” among others — because of his tendency to go rogue and self-assign calls outside of his area, yet stick to procedure. He wanted to respond to difficult calls, Mueller recalled, including the one on Feb. 18. 

“He was extraordinarily heroic that morning,” Mueller said. Ruge negotiated for several hours and bought his fellow officers time to manage the situation. Mueller noted how Ruge worked to bring his partner Paul Elmstrand to safety, even though he had been shot himself.

“At the same time, it is also true that Ruge left us with remarkable gifts. For example, I noticed I’m saying ‘I love you’ a lot more this past week and a half. And I’m hearing ‘I love you’ a lot too,” he said. 

Deputy Chief Matt Smith with the Burnsville Police Department spoke next, recounting Elmstrand’s sense of humor and love for his family.

“He had a laugh that was infectious,” Smith said, joking that Elmstrand sometimes liked to laugh at his own jokes. He was an avid watcher and re-watcher of The Office, and had memorabilia from the television show strewn across his desk at work.

Elmstrand was also dedicated to honoring other fallen first responders, he said. He had recently been selected to be a member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association’s honor guard, and he liked to practice formations in his living room. 

Burnsville Fire Captain Brandon Johannsen then described firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth’s quiet courage, genuine concern for the wellbeing of others, and boundless compassion.

“He possessed an innate ability to put others’ well-being above his own, always ensuring that everyone around him felt seen, heard, and cared for,” Johannsen said. 

At the same time, Finseth was a jokester, who helped lighten the mood at work with his witty remarks, Johannsen added. And while he was committed to his work, he was most of all, committed to his wife and two children. 

“He talked about you every day at work, when he was not with you,” Johannsen said to Finseth’s children. “We can talk about him and remember the good times whenever you want.”

The eulogies concluded with speeches from Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz and Burnsville Fire Chief BJ Jungmann. 

“To our fallen heroes. Thank you. We miss you,” Schwartz said. 

“It feels cruel. There are no words to provide sufficient comfort. All we can do is promise you our support. And we assure you that we will forever be by your side,” she said to the families of Ruge and Elmstrand.

Jungmann highlighted Finseth’s dedication, honor and integrity.

“Adam was always working to improve himself. Being a firefighter-paramedic was not enough for him,” he said. Finseth always wanted to serve others, and he did so honorably, he said.

To read the full transcripts of the eulogies, click here.