During the attack on the Crossroads Center last fall, one off-duty Avon Police Officer stopped the attacker before he could claim more victims.
Officer Jason Falconer was honored Monday night by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association. Avon Police Chief Corey Nellis says he couldn’t ask for a better person to be in Officer Falconer’s place that night.
“I’ve said it many times, I couldn’t ask for a better person to be in that place. Jason is pretty humble, he tries to avoid the spotlight, says any officer would do what he did, but I know wholeheartedly that not even all officers carry weapons off-duty. So not all officers would even put themselves in the position to respond the way Jason did.”
Chief Nellis says the feeling of seeing Officer Falconer honored by the Chief’s Association was incredible.
“It was an amazing night, it’s always an amazing night but to have Jason recognized as Officer of the Year by our Chief’s Association is incredible, he certainly deserves it.”
Chief Nellis added that Officer Falconer “absolutely saved lives” that night.
The night of the attack, Dahir Adan — dressed in a security guard uniform — walked into Crossroads Shopping Center just after 8 before stabbing ten people.
Officer Falconer, off-duty and shopping at the time, engaged and killed Adan.
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