Justice for Officer James T. Sackett Sr.: Keep Ronald Reed Behind Bars
For more than five decades, the family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers of St. Paul Police Officer James T. Sackett Sr. has carried the memory of a husband, father and police officer whose life was taken in the line of duty.
On May 22, 1970, 27-year-old Officer Sackett responded to what appeared to be an emergency call involving a woman in labor. It was a fictitious call. According to the prosecution's case that ultimately led to Ronald Reed's conviction, the call was used to lure Officer Sackett to the location where he was ambushed and fatally shot.
Officer Sackett never had the opportunity to return home to his family that day.
More than 50 years later, his murder continues to affect his family, the St. Paul Police Department and Minnesota's entire law enforcement community.
Ronald Reed's Request for Release
Ronald Lindsey Reed was eventually convicted of first-degree premeditated murder for his role in Officer Sackett's death.
Reed has repeatedly come before Minnesota's release process seeking an opportunity to leave prison.
The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police believes the facts surrounding Officer Sackett's murder must never become less important simply because decades have passed.
Officer Sackett's life mattered then. His sacrifice matters today.
The Minnesota FOP Stands With the Sackett Family
The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police strongly opposes the release of Ronald Reed.
Our position is not based simply on the fact that the victim wore a badge. It is based on the extraordinary circumstances of this crime.
Officer Sackett was responding to a call for help. That call was false. It placed a police officer in a position where he believed someone needed assistance and ultimately led him into a deadly ambush.
Law enforcement officers answer calls for help because our communities depend upon them to do so. Using that responsibility and willingness to help as a means of drawing an officer into an ambush represents an attack not only on one officer, but on the fundamental trust upon which emergency response depends.
The passage of time does not change those circumstances.
Accountability Matters
The Minnesota Supervised Release Board carries an enormous responsibility when considering cases involving the murder of a peace officer.
These decisions deserve public attention and transparency.
The Minnesota FOP encourages Minnesotans—particularly members of the law enforcement community—to remain engaged in this process, learn about Officer Sackett's story and make their voices heard.
We also believe those entrusted with making these decisions must remember the person whose voice cannot be heard at the hearing: Officer James T. Sackett Sr.
We Stand Together
The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police stands with the Sackett family, the St. Paul Police Department and our brothers and sisters of the St. Paul Police Federation.
We commend the St. Paul Police Federation for its continued work to ensure Officer Sackett's story is remembered and that his sacrifice is never reduced to a line in a decades-old case file.
This is about remembrance.
This is about accountability.
And this is about keeping a promise to an officer who gave his life answering a call for help.
Justice for Officer James T. Sackett Sr.
Never forget. Never stop fighting.
#FOPStrong 🇺🇸
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