Officer Felicia Dee Reilly - St. Paul Police Department - Minnesota
Officer Felicia Dee Reilly is the first female police officer killed in the line of duty with the St. Paul Police Department (Minnesota).
Back on March 24, 2010, Officer Reilly responded to a 911 hang up call at a residence in St. Paul. Once at the residence, Officer Reilly was invited inside the home and was notified by an elderly couple that their son was threatening them. When Officer Reilly approached the son, he began to attack her. Officer Reilly attempted to use her TASER to subdue him, but he continued to swing and punch her in the face.
Despite being tasered, the son continued to punch Officer Reilly and she eventually fell to the floor where eh began to kick her in the head multiple times. Officer Reilly was tough as nails and was able to stand up and once again attempted to subdue the son. She chased him outside the home.
Other responding officers eventually arrived, they helped Officer Reilly get the son into custody. She was later transported to the hospital and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
For the last 15 years, Officer Reilly suffered from permanent double vision, chronic migraine headaches, light sensitivity, nausea, and a decrease in cognitive functioning, which obviously forced her to retire from law enforcement. After suffering for these 15 years, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away on March 1, 2025.
The suspect can not be tried for murder as he has already been found guilty of assault and was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison in 2015. He is unable to be charged with Officer Reilly's murder due to the double jeopardy clause in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Officer Reilly had served with the Saint Paul Police Department for 17 years. She is survived by her husband, three sons, two daughters, two sisters, and grandchildren. Her husband is a retired St. Louis Park Police Department (Minnesota) whom I served next to for many years.
As part of our "Plaques for Heroes" campaign, an engraved blue line wood flag memorial was given to Officer Reilly's family at no cost to honor her service and her sacrifice to the community of St. Paul.
