NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Friends, family, and fellow police officers said their final goodbyes to Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell in New Haven Monday afternoon, who was killed in the line of duty in Minneapolis last month.
The services were held at the Floyd Little Athletic Center at Hillhouse High School, after a memorial service was held in Minnesota last week.
Mitchell died in the line of duty on May 30 as he was responding to a shots fired incident in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis where he was "ambushed and shot" while attempting to help a man, who then fired a gun at him "without warning," police said.
Though he served as a police officer in Minneapolis, Mitchell was raised in the Westville neighborhood of New Haven and graduated from Wilbur Cross High School.
“God said, mission accomplished. Welcome home officer Jamal Mitchell,” said Elder Rhonda Stewart during Monday’s service in the Elm City.
Mitchell moved to Minneapolis in 2018, first working as a TSA Agent for the Department of Homeland Security at Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport. A little over a year ago, he became an officer for the Minneapolis Police Department.
“Jamal Mitchell represented all that is good about the men and women of the Minneapolis Police Dept. and the men and women who serve in the policing profession,” said Chief Brian O’Hara of the MPD. “It’s not how Jamal died that made him a hero, it’s how he lived his life.”
O’Hara spoke about Mitchell’s commitment to his community, where he spent a lot of time working with young kids, and waving hello to strangers wherever he went.
“Jamal wasn’t just on the front lines in his patrol car, he was in the classrooms and in the schools, he was coaching, he was waving, Jamal knew that a smile was a smile in any language. That’s why he smiled and waved. How many people did he connect with on a daily basis,” said Commissioner Ronnell Higgins of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, also related to Mitchell through marriage.
Outside of his role as an officer, Mitchell was also a long-time partner to Tori Myslayek and a father to their four children. He also leaves behind his parents, Janet Raper-Edwards (Dennis) and Frank Mitchell Jr., his siblings and many extended family members.
“In the midst of tears, we are here to celebrate the life of Jamal James Mitchell,” said Asst. Pastor Denise Raper, who emceed the service as Mitchell's aunt.
Family, friends, and officers from across the state and country came to New Haven for the services.
“For a man that lived with purpose. A man that had a destiny. A man that had an assignment,” Raper said.
“Officer Jamal Mitchell’s examples of bravery and empathy while serving represented the very best of us. Janet, family, he was the best of us,” Higgins said. “Although his service was short, it was something to behold.”
That praise was echoed by Mitchell’s 101-year-old great-grandmother, who delivered the eulogy Monday.
“Tell the Lord thank you,” said Apostle Martha Green at the start of her speech.
Green said goodbye to her grandson’s body, knowing his soul will live on.
“Bye, bye. Well done. Job well done,” Green said.
“Farewell Minneapolis Police Officer, Jamal Mitchell. Number 4819. We have the watch from here,” O’Hara said.
The burial for Officer Mitchell took place at Evergreen Cemetery, as two helicopters flew overhead.
A memorial service was held for Mitchell on June 11 in Maple Grove, Minn., before he was brought to Bradley Airport on June 12 and escorted by police to New Haven.
A GoFundMe launched by the Minneapolis Police Foundation to cover the expenses for 50 of the city's police officers, along with 20 Honor Guard officers, to attend the funeral of Mitchell can be found here. The fundraiser has already raised over $25,600 as of Sunday evening.
More information about who Mitchell was and the events that unfolded in Minneapolis on May 30 can be found on KARE11's website.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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