Before wearing a rookie police uniform, Daxbury wore burgundy and gold to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs football team during the 2014-2018 season. “There is a part of you that is shocked and saddened by what happened, the other side is relieved to be alive and on the road to recovery,” said Curt Wies, UMD’s head football coach. “He was a man who was selfless, a very good teammate, a leader on campus and in our program.” Wiese said he received a text message from Duxbury today from the hospital. Roseville officials responded Tuesday night to a Lake Owasso neighborhood shooting. Police said the perpetrator fired 100 bullets for more than an hour at police officers in nearby homes and cars, hitting Duxbury in the face. “Hope a lot and I wish you well,” said Mitch Johnson-Martin, a friend and former teammate. Roseville Police Officer Ryan Duxbury (Roseville Police Department) A text from the hospital, from his friend, that brought consolation to Johnson-Martin. “I cried when I saw his name on my phone because I know how lucky we are to have him and how lucky the society is to have him,” Johnson-Martin said. “He knew what he wanted to do at a young age – to be a protector like that, and he did,” said Tony Biolo, a former Duxbury football coach at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin, Wisconsin. Biolo found a high school football program from Duxbury’s final year that said he wanted to study criminology and play college football. “Your favorite kids are the ones who work very hard and do the things you ask them to do. “He was one of those guys,” Biolo said. “He would give other children the shirt from his back, if they needed it, he was a great leader.” Friends have set up a fundraising page to help the officer and his family. In addition to being a patrol officer, Officer Duxbury is a field training officer and is involved in many charitable events each year. In 2021 Officer Duxbury was awarded three unit references and has received several letters of appreciation for his record.
