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"As a Minneapolis police officer, Jamal was absolutely everything we could possibly have asked him to be."
Chief Brian O'Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department gave that glowing assessment of Officer Jamal Mitchell at his funeral in his hometown of New Haven.
Mitchell, 36, who joined the Minneapolis department in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd, was killed on the job last month. Police say he was ambushed and shot by a man he was trying to help.
"He leaned into tense relationships at a time when to be a police officer anywhere in the United States is challenging," says New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. "Because I think he wanted to do his part to undo such a horrible wrong that happened with the murder of George Floyd and to support the profession and the trust between the community and the police department."
"People like Jamal agree to show up," says O'Hara. "At a time when so many people want to work from home, Jamal agreed to go work nights and weekends. Jamal agreed to leave his children behind on holidays. Jamal agreed that missing holidays and birthdays were worth it for a higher purpose."
Mitchell was eulogized by his 101-year-old great grandmother, Martha Green, who's been preaching in New Haven for a half-century. "Job well done," she exclaimed.
A procession for Mitchell moved around 8:30 a.m. Monday from the McClam Funeral home to the Floyd Little Athletic Center, site of visitation and the funeral.
He was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery, also in New Haven. Mitchell is survived by his longtime partner Tori and his four children.
