Sept. 21, 2007: Award for sleuths who won convictions in '70 cop killing

Last update: August 28, 2008 - 11:55 AM

The investigative team that won convictions last year in the 1970 slaying of St. Paul police officer James Sackett has captured the Cold Case Investigation of the Year award from the International Association of Homicide Investigators.

The team, which included Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Paulsen, Ramsey County prosecutor Susan Hudson and St. Paul police Sgts. Scott Duff, Tom Dunaski and Jane Mead, was honored Thursday night at the association's annual symposium in Las Vegas.

A year ago, Ronald L. Reed and Larry L. Clark were convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Sackett, a father of four who was ambushed while responding to a false emergency call at a St. Paul home.

For Dunaski, it was the second time in 15 months he was honored in connection with the Sackett case. In June 2006, he was presented the annual Law Enforcement Recognition Award from the office of U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose.

That honor also took note of his work in helping solve the 1994 arson deaths of five Coppage children and the 1996 killing of Davisha Brantley-Gillum.

Is he a superstar cop?

"If we've got one, it's him," St. Paul police spokesman Tom Walsh said Friday.

He said Thursday's award was particularly sweet in that the honorees are excellent at what they do, and are "real decent people," as well.

ANTHONY LONETREE

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