Fargo City Hall lit in blue to honor
Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallen,
who was gunned down in the line of duty.
Officer Wallen was from Minnesota.
Two other officers were also shot and remain
in critical but stable condition tonight.
Here's a look at what we know at this hour.
This was a heinous and unthinkable
act of aggression against our
officers and against our community.
Police Chief David Zabolski says a gunman
opened fire on police for no known reason.
The officers were responding to what
the chief called a routine traffic
crash before 3 yesterday afternoon.
He identified the shooter as 37
year old Mohammed Berkat from Fargo
and police don't believe that
he was involved in that crash.
The chief says that the suspect
also fired at firefighters before
an officer shot and killed him.
As for the two injured officers, Zabol.
He gave this update.
I met with both Andy and Tyler
earlier today at the hospital.
They're both in good spirits, but they
still have significant recovery time.
Officer Andrew Dota See six year
veteran of the Fargo Police Department,
and Officer Tyler Hawes graduated.
From the University of Minnesota,
Morris and was sworn in
just three months ago,
along with Officer Walleen.
Now, as we mentioned,
Officer Walleen grew up in Minnesota,
graduating from Saint Michael Albertville.
Kenterdal visited the community today.
Yeah, And shortly after we arrived
in Saint Michael this afternoon,
I spoke with Officer Walleen's father, Jeff.
He and his wife took the photo
you looking at behind me with
their son that is swearing in and
less less than three months ago.
So as you can imagine,
he told me that he's still too shocked and
heartbroken to speak on camera right now.
But he did ask me if we could share a
video released by Fargo police today.
It features an interview with
his son just a short time ago,
and Jeff says what you're about to
hear is exactly who he always was.
Throughout my my entire
life, I've always wanted to
work in some sort of position
that had purpose behind my job,
and police officer is always
what kind of came to me.
Jake Wallen's father says
his son's desire to serve started
long before he realized his dream
of becoming a police officer.
Hi, I'm Jake Wallen.
I'm from Saint Michael,
Auburnville, Minnesota,
and I've been to more countries
than I have been states.
Even his travel can be explained
through service to our country.
Months before graduating from
Saint Michael Albertville,
he joined the Minnesota Army National Guard,
and in 2020 he deployed
to Iraq and Afghanistan,
where he remained until just weeks
before the US withdrawal from the region.
After returning,
he started back down that path
he'd always envisioned for himself,
served his country, came back here,
and wanted nothing more but to
serve in a position with purpose
and meaning. His exact words,
my desire to serve it comes directly
from the want to have purpose
behind my job each and every
day. And he did that.
And he was a member of our family,
and he's been taken from us far too soon,
sworn into our department just less than
three months ago, April 24th, 2023.
Right here in this very commissioned chamber,
Fargo's police chief says Officer
Walleen's death came so quickly
that he was still undergoing
field training when he and his
fellow officers were ambushed.
But the chief says it's
Walleen's quick smile,
quick wit and lasting passion
that everyone will remember
Had an excellent sense of humor.
Smart was very impressive as
he went through the Academy,
and he was doing well on field
training as well. And it's just.
Release that tragedy that he's
no longer with us. Tonight,
the leader of the Minnesota National
Guard also honored Waleen, writing.
His death is a loss to our
military family as well.
He lived a life of service not only to
his state and nation, but his community.
We are grateful for his commitment to others,
even in the face of danger back in
Saint Michael, Jake's father says.
He's grateful too,
and proud that in life and in death.
His son stayed true to his purpose
and followed through on his
work. Yeah, I don't want to be
sitting in the office wondering why
I'm here every day. I want to be out.
I want to be doing something that
I can tell myself the other day.
I made a difference somehow.
Tributes to Officer Wally and also
poured in from friends today,
including Jonathan Norling, who sent me
the photo you're looking at behind me.
He says he served with him in five
countries and added he was one of
the greatest soldiers that I've ever
had the privilege to serve with.
His personality, dedication and motivation
were contagious to those around him.
His laughter and smile had the
ability to brighten any situation.
He was proud to serve in both
the uniform of his country.
And his community,
some beautiful tributes there.
Kent, thank you so much,
just breaks your heart.
Well, stay with CARE 11 on air
and online as we continue to
learn more about these officers
and the shooting investigation.