Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

The death of St. Paul Police Officer Gerald Vick last Friday hit close to home for Wyoming Police Chief Tony Pangal. Recently, Pangal shared some thoughts about the slain officer.

Pangal began his law enforcement career with the St. Paul Police Department and Vick was his field training officer

Pangal said the 16 weeks of training is part of the job. Vick was his FTO for two of four phases of training.

Part of training is riding along with an experienced officer, ìlearningî the job, Pangal said. Vick was the lead officer for part of Pangalís ìride alongî training program.

Pangal said Vick had a great attitude and ìhe always treated people with respect.î His view was that most of those he dealt with, on both sides of the law, were in some way victims, Pangal said.

As a police officer, Pangal said it is ìeasy to get cynical, but Vick looked for the positive things in everyone.î Pangal said the City of St. Paul is ìlosing a great officer and an exceptional individual.î

Vick, 41, was shot to death outside a bar on the East Side of St. Paul where he was working undercover.

Pangal believes most police officers feel part of a ìbrotherhood.î Officers from many departments responded to the shooting emergency, including some from Wyoming.

At least one Wyoming officer in training was there right away, Pangal said. A toal of five Wyoming officers provided help in St. Paul, he said. Officers responding helped form the perimeter of the incident area and checking for suspects.

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