Detective Hartigan

Katie from Yucky Salad on her uncle:

Retired Detective Lieutenant Patrick Thomas ("Pat") Hartigan, whom former Police Chief Anthony Bouza once characterized as, "an urban saint," died at his home in Minneapolis on January 25. He was 75 years old. Predeceased by his parents and one sister, Mary Louise, he is survived by three siblings: retired Municipal Judge Bruce Hartigan; Michael, also a retired city employee; Katherine ("Punkin") Hubbell, of Minnetonka; and a large number of loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A 30-year veteran of the police force, Hartigan was walking a Franklin Avenue beat in 1958 when he came upon an older man who had been beaten and robbed. "He had lost everything he had," Hartigan reported. The policeman volunteered to manage the man's finances, and to dole out his money to him as he needed it. "I'm a stable address," he said, "and my mailbox doesn't get ripped off." Before long, he found himself doing the same for many of the people along his beat, most of them native Americans; through the years, he accumulated hundreds of "clients." He made many enduring friendships, loaned or gave many of them a great deal of his own money, served as best man at their weddings and became godfather to many of their children. In an effort to explain his attitude, he once said, "They're poor and powerless, but they are made in the image and likeness of God. You can't help but like them."

Read the whole thing. (Scroll down if you have to - Katie still hasn't figured out permalinks...)

Posted by Mitch at January 31, 2006 05:50 AM | TrackBack