Minnesota Senate Approves Memorial Highway for Zumbrota Officer

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - A bill has been sent to Governor Tim Walz that calls for designating a section of highway in southeastern Minnesota in honor of a fallen law enforcement officer.

Designation Covers Main Street in Zumbrota

The designation, which covers a 4-mile stretch of Highway 58 through Zumbrota, was approved by the Minnesota Senate on a unanimous vote today. The legislation designates the highway as the Officer/Firefighter Gary L. Schroeder Jr. Memorial Highway.

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The measure was authored by State Senator Steve Drazkowski, who says the designation is “a fitting tribute to a man who spent nearly two decades of his life keeping people safe.”

“Gary Schroeder Jr. served the people of Zumbrota as a police officer and firefighter for nearly two decades, and he gave everything he had to his community,” Senator Drazkowski said. “Even as he battled the PTSD he developed in the line of duty, he was still showing up to counsel other officers going through the same thing. Naming this highway after him is the least we can do for a true hometown hero and the family that loved him.”

Battled Work-Related PTSD

Schroeder’s death by suicide in April 2023 was classified as an in-the-line-of-duty death related to his long battle with work-related PTSD. He was 46 years old and is survived by his wife and their three children.

Nearly 20 Years in Law Enforcement

Schroeder was an officer with the Zumbrota Police Department for 18 years before his retirement for medical reasons in 2020. He also served as a firefighter with the Zumbrota Fire Department.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.