“Heroes Live Forever” - the story of Saint Paul (MN) Police Officers Ronald Ryan Jr., Timothy Jones and K9 Laser

More than 30 years ago, two police officers and a police K9 were murdered in a pair of ambush attacks by the same assailant. It shook the department, the community and the nation.

Ronald Ryan Jr. and Timothy Jones with K9 Laser

McLean, VA (September 1, 2026) - On August 26, 1994, Saint Paul endured one of the darkest days in its history. In the span of just a few hours, Officers Ronald Michael Ryan Jr., Timothy James Jones, and K9 Laser were ambushed and murdered while doing what they had always done—protecting their community with courage, compassion, and unwavering devotion. Their deaths triggered one of the largest law enforcement funeral processions Minnesota had ever seen, with more than 1,500 squad cars lining the streets in solemn tribute. Thirty years later, their families, their department, and their city continue to honor their legacy through memorials, reflections, and the stories of lives they touched.

This week’s Heroes Live Forever episode tells the full story of that tragic day—how Officer Ryan was murdered while checking on what seemed like a routine “slumper” call, how Officer Jones and Laser volunteered to join the manhunt and were ambushed while tracking the suspect, and how all three left behind families, colleagues, and a community forever changed. Through firsthand reflections from the Officer Down Memorial Page, family memories, and the tributes that still pour in decades later, this episode preserves the legacy of three heroes whose courage continues to inspire.

Listen to the podcast to hear the rest of the story: https://behindbadge.substack.com/p/heroes-live-forever-the-story-of-33e