by Dennis Dalman
Sartell K-9 police dog “Kimber,” along with police officer Kari Bonfield, recently helped comfort many people traumatized last month in Burnsville after a horrific triple murder of public servants in that city.
News of the shocking Feb. 18 cold-blooded killings rocked the state. Flags were flown at half-mast statewide in honor of two murdered police officers, Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge; and a firefighter paramedic, Adam Finseth. Another police officer, Adam Medlicott, was shot and later recovered from his injuries.
At 1:50 a.m. on Feb. 18, a report of a domestic-crisis situation was called in to Dakota County dispatchers. A 38-year-old armed man had barricaded himself in a house with a woman and seven children ages 2 to 15. Those people in the house were not physically harmed during the crisis.
The man who shot and killed the responders then committed suicide by gun. He had a history of illegal gun possession, physical assaults and threats of violence.
Like law-enforcement agencies throughout the state, the Sartell Police Department joined together in mourning and honoring the deceased responders. Bonfield and Kimber were asked to go to the Dakota County Dispatch Center to help comfort the grieving, stressed dispatchers.
Bonfield was happy to do just that. At the dispatch center, she and Kimber (a female German Shepherd) both comforted the workers. Kimber walked around from person to person, nuzzling them, holding a paw up, wagging her tail.
“Kimber helped make the mood a bit lighter,” said Bonfield in an interview with the Newsleaders.
Bonfield and Kimber also visited the Burnsville Police Department, where a vigil-memorial was set up outside that included thousands of flowers, notes, flags and other offerings from people saddened by the murders of their public servants.
“It was such a somber mood there,” Bonfield recalled. “But I do think Kimber made a difference as she interacted with so many people that day. She was a kind of connection for those people, and she helped make it a healing experience for me too.”
It wasn’t the first time Kimber, now 11-months old, made a big difference during times of crisis. She has brought down anxiety and stress levels during many confrontations that Bonfield has encountered as a police officer.
Kimber was assigned to Bonfield after weeks of special training. The two met on Sept. 25, 2023 when an instant bond developed between the two.
“Her demeanor is so calm,” Bonfield said. “I call her ‘very chill.’ When she’s got her (police K-9) vest on, she knows she’s working. But back home, as soon as I take that vest off of her, she knows she can become a carefree dog again. She loves to play with the two other dogs and with her toys.”
The “other” dogs are Radar, an 8-year-old beagle; and Lazer, a seventh-month-old mixed-breed dog.
Kimber has become a kind of star, popular wherever she and Bonfield go, including Sartell schools, the senior center and other social venues.
Bonfield has been employed by the Sartell Police Department for 20 years, two of them as a Reserve officer and the last 18 as a full-fledged officer.
So new to the police force, Kimber, after just seven months on the job, is the new pro, the new pal – loved by all who are lucky enough to meet her.
Kari Bonfield and her K-9 pal, Kimber, observe a moment of reverent silence in front of a memorial for three public servants – two police officers, one paramedic – who were murdered in Burnsville.
Sartell Police Officer Kari Bonfield and her K-9 pal Kimber.
