Daughter of Fallen Olmsted County Deputy Makes First Visit to Memorial
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - The Olmsted County Sheriff’s office is observing a somber anniversary Wednesday.
It was 40 years ago - May 17, 1977 - when Deputy Jack Werner was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle that was driving erratically at Apache Mall.
Werner was hit in the chest by a shotgun blast. He was 33-years-old and the father of two girls. The 20-year-old who killed him - James Edward Lee - drove off in Werner’s squad car but was caught a few hours later and eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
One of Werner’s daughters went to Washington, DC to take in some of the events connected to National Police Week. The week began with Peace Officers Memorial Day on Monday.
Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson says Werner’s youngest daughter Wendy was only 18-months-old when he was killed. Torgerson says Wendy Trumpold visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for the first time on the 40th anniversary of his death. Her father's name is engraved on the memorial.
Joining her on the trip were her husband and daughter. Escorting them on the trip is Olmsted County Deputy Jon Strum. He is a member of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office honor guard.
Here is a link to the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial. Click on Werner's name for a summary of the deadly shooting.
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