House honors fallen officer, Navy SEAL in pair of votes

Officer Richard Crittenden patrolled parts of Highway 36 for nearly a decade as a police officer in North St. Paul. Now, the stretch of highway through the city he served could permanently bear his name.

Passed 127-0 by the House Monday, HF1979/SF1892*, would rename Highway 36 within North St. Paul’s borders the “Officer Richard Crittenden Memorial Highway.” Crittenden was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 7, 2009, as he responded to a domestic violence call.

Sponsored by Rep. Leon Lille (DFL-North St. Paul) and Sen. Charles Wiger (DFL-Maplewood), the bill was passed 65-0 last week by the Senate, but amended by the House on Monday to adopt the House’s version. The bill will now head to the Senate for re-passage.

“In every one of our communities we have first responders showing up, keeping us safe,” Lille said.

The House also passed a measure to honor another fallen service member.

HF2219, sponsored by Rep. Bob Barrett (R-Lindstrom), would designate Highway 8 from Forest Lake through Chisago City as the “Nicholas Patrick Spehar Memorial Highway.” A highly-decorated Navy SEAL, Spehar was killed in a 2011 helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan, his third deployment.

“This young man's service touched our community,” Barrett said.

The bill passed 128-0 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.