Incident
Patrolman Richard Cronin suffered a fatal heart attack after being assaulted.
Patrolman Cronin was assigned to the Margaret Street Station's jail and had gone with two other officers to arrest a man. As the officers attempted to remove the man from his house he violently resisted and kicked Patrolman Cronin in the stomach. He collapsed moments later and died while being taken to the local hospital.
The subject who kicked Patrolman Cronin was fined $50 for disorderly conduct and released.
Patrolman Cronin had served with the St. Paul Police Department for 15 years. He was survived by his wife and two children. He is buried in Calvery Cemetery in St. Paul.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Cronin gave the Saint Paul Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cronin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Saint Paul Police Department has lost 33 officers; 2 of them lost to cardiac events.
Richard is one of 26 officers lost to cardiac events in MN, 8.9% of the 293 remembered there.
Richard is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Richard is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1905, 1 officer in MN was lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1979, with 2.
In 1905, 3 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 100th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1905, 3 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 100th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Richard was 52. Of the 26 lost to cardiac events in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 42.8 and 52; the middle age was 47.5. Richard had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
Richard was 52. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Richard had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Richard was 52. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Richard had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
January holds 3.8% of these deaths in MN; August holds the most, 19.2%. Tuesdays: 23.1%.
January holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 6.1% of all 33 deaths at Saint Paul Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 8.9% of all 293 deaths in MN, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Saint Paul Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Daniel O'Connell Jun 17, 1882
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Hans Hanson
Aug 3, 1888
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Thomas C. McCarrick Jun 19, 1891
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Charles Mayer
Feb 1, 1902
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James William Finn
Jun 3, 1902
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Richard Cronin
Jan 3, 1905
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Frank Fraser
Aug 14, 1911
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Michael J. Sullivan
Jun 26, 1914
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Hans Aamold
Sep 27, 1914
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Paul Gottfried
Aug 3, 1919
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William W. McClintock
Apr 2, 1922
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George Albert Stegner
Oct 12, 1922
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E. Earl Hackert
Feb 6, 1923
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William F. Wilson
Feb 6, 1923
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Frank Milanoski
Aug 15, 1924
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Albert J. Cunnien
Jul 3, 1925
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Fred A. Peitsch
Feb 23, 1926
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John Schultz
Feb 23, 1926
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Calbert H. Leedom
Jun 20, 1926
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Axel J. Soderberg
Mar 20, 1928
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Mathew Weiss
Jun 17, 1933
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Lawrence F. Tierney
Nov 14, 1934
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Richard G. Hinshaw
Oct 1, 1937
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Allan G. Lee
Sep 10, 1949
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Alfred V. Sandquist
Jun 18, 1959
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James T. Sackett, Sr.
May 22, 1970
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John Harold Larson
Aug 10, 1974
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John J. O'Brien
Apr 16, 1981
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Ronald Michael Ryan, Jr.
Aug 26, 1994
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Timothy James Jones
Aug 26, 1994
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Gerald Dennis Vick
May 6, 2005
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Joshua Phillip Lynaugh
Feb 16, 2013
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Felicia Dee Reilly
Mar 1, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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