Brown County Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher Julie Hellendrung – Medal of Merit Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Valerie Hauser – Medal of Valor Sleepy Eye Police Officer Peter McGarry – Medal of Valor Sleepy Eye Police Officer Taylor Bolinger – Medal of Valor Brown County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Robertson – Medal of Valor Brown County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Fairbairn – Medal of Valor

As presented by Brown Co. Sheriff Jason Seidl:

Today, September 17, 2024, we gather here to present Awards of Valor and Awards of Merit to area law enforcement personnel who serve the citizens of Brown County. The Award of Valor is the highest recognition of achievement presented by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. It is awarded to licensed peace officers who distinguish themselves with extraordinary acts of bravery or heroism above and beyond that normally expected in the line of duty. Employees must have displayed extreme courage by placing their own safety in immediate peril in the pursuit of their duties.

The Award of Merit is the for the superior handling of the most difficult situation by civilian personnel.

On night of September 13, 2023, Brown County Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher Julie Hellendrung began receiving information on a suspect who shot and killed Algona, Iowa  Police Officer Kevin Cram. The information showed the suspect’s movements were being tracked through his vehicle and his route was leading Iowa authorities to a rural Brown County, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota address, where the suspect has family.

Dispatcher Julie Hellendrung coordinated with Deputy Jason Fairbairn and Deputy Justin Robertson, with the information and location. Dispatcher Julie Hellendrung continued to receive information from multiple sources, while Deputy Jason Fairbairn coordinated a law enforcement response, working with Sleepy Eye Police Department Officer Pete McGarry, Sleepy Eye Police Department Officer Taylor Bollinger, and Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Valerie Hauser.

These five law enforcement officers were assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol Air Unit in their response. Deputy Jason Fairbairn coordinated the response, while collecting greater details from the Iowa Authorities. Officer Bollinger ultimately had a telephone call with the suspect’s sister, and was able to confirm the suspect’s location, and compliance through the State Patrol Air Unit.

The information that was obtained in the telephone call, where an officer spoke with both the sister and the suspect, provided the officers with intelligence that was able to be confirmed by the State Patrol Air Unit.

The suspect initially wanted to walk out of the farmyard down a driveway surrounded by cornfields. Ultimately the suspect went to his knees in front of a garage, facing the garage door, away from the responding officers. As the arrest team approached, the suspect’s sister was standing between the suspect and the team of law enforcement officers. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody without incident.

I commend the response of these five law enforcement officers, including the organization, collaboration, and their actions to lead this response. These officers understood the stress level was high, they worked in coordination with the State Patrol Air Unit, and led the tactical approach on the ground, which resulted in the peaceful arrest of the murder suspect, who three hours earlier killed a member of the law enforcement community.

Not only did these law enforcement officers conduct the arrest. They also recognized the importance of a much larger investigation by ensuring the scene was safe and secure for additional investigation and evidence to be collected.

Executing an arrest of any homicide suspect is high risk, executing the arrest of a suspect who shot and killed a police officer three hours earlier, increased the stress level, and in my opinion, all the involved law enforcement officers may never be involved in an arrest that carries a high risk in their professional careers.  Knowing this suspect had no regard for life, including the lives of the men and women who have chosen to serve in the law enforcement profession by serving their community. I commend this fine group of men and women for the professional work and collaboration they displayed on the night of September 13, 2023. This truly was a team effort.

Whereas, on this 17^th Day of September 2024, I am proud to present to Brown County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Fairbairn, Brown County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Robertson, Minnesota State Trooper Valerie Hauser, Sleepy Eye Police Office Peter McGarry, and Sleepy Police Officer Taylor Bolinger with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office Award of Valor.

Whereas, on this 17^th Day of September 2024, I am proud to present Brown County Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher Julie Hellendrung with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office Award of Merit.

I recognize how important these fine members of the law enforcement community acted with bravery, not only on September 13, 2023, but also in their dedication to serving the citizens of Brown County on a daily basis.

As we gather today to recognize these members presented before you,  I must also recognize and express how proud I am of all the work the members of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy’s, Correction Officers, Dispatchers, and Support Staff, do daily. We have great people serving the citizens of Brown County as well as all of our law enforcement and first responder partners in Brown County.