MINNEAPOLIS— Community support for fallen Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell is in full bloom.
A week ago, Mitchell was killed in the Whittier area. Mitchell was shot without warning I’m trying to help a man on the street.
Since that fateful day, community members have shown support through fundraisers and letters of encouragement left in his squad car outside the Minneapolis Police Department’s 5th Precinct.
Among those people is Cindy Elmstrand-Castruita, who knows what his family is going through.
“We haven’t had time to heal,” she said.
Just over three months ago, her life changed forever, and her husband’s team was covered in flowers.
So were her husband, Burnsville Police Officer Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge and SWAT paramedic Adam Finseth shot and killed in the line of duty.
Ubah Ali and Cindy from WCCO spoke in March about her hero, Paul, and what a great father he was.
Once again they spoke at the growing monument to Mitchell. This time, Elmstrand-Castruit’s heart broke for another family.
“I wish I could protect all officers and their families from something like this,” she said.
Elmstrand-Castruit was overcome with anger and sadness as she wondered why and why so quickly.
“It still feels like it’s been a week since my husband passed away,” she said.
It’s words of encouragement left on Mitchell’s patrol car, as well as Elmstrand’s, that she says help her get through the difficult days.
“When I look at the letters they (community members) wrote and left in Paul’s car, it gives me hope that not everyone is bad or evil,” Elmstrand-Castruita said.
While she understands the burden Mitchell’s family is feeling, she wants them to know this: “My only advice is to take it moment by moment,” Elmstrand-Castruita said.
