The Richard Magnuson Story

Officer Down Memorial Podcast

It was August of 1978 in NW Minnesota when a Canadian Border Agent reported a “run-through” at the Roseau Port of Entry 10 miles north of the county seat of Roseau. Run-throughs were a fairly common occurrence with locals crossing the border after hours, often heading home and simply not wanting to drive the longer distances for the 24-hour ports. There were no gates back then, just orange traffic cones placed after hours blocking the road. If caught, violators would get escorted back to the border by law enforcement and risk a $100 fine. The Roseau County Sheriff’s Office received the call and dispatched Richard Kim Magnuson (Rick) to respond to try and locate the vehicle. Rick was a young new deputy working the night shift and stopped a southbound truck on Highway 310. This “run-through” incident would end in Rick being murdered by a wanted man who recently killed three other citizens in Canada. In stopping this truck and paying the ultimate sacrifice in the process, Rick‘s actions stopped the killing and saved the lives of other cops and innocent citizens. Rick is the only Line of Duty Death to-date for the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota. ​​This episode is sponsored by our friends at Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc. ​ Click here if you are interested learning how you can support this podcast and the National COPS organization: www.glow.fm/officerdownmemorialpodcast WARNING: Violent content may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.