Photo Gallery: Medal of Valor Awarded to Hudson Cop Nearly 58 Years After Death

The held a special ceremony Saturday at the to honor slain Hudson Officer Clarence Erickson, who was gunned down in the line of duty on June 14, 1953.

He was 26 years old at the time, was about to complete his first year on the Hudson police force and had recently found out that his wife was pregnant.

The child Erickson was never able to meet is Carol Weber. The 57-year-old Stillwater resident accepted the Hudson Police Department Medal of Valor in honor of her father. Also accepting were Erickson's grandchildren Ryan Weber, Kyle Weber and Rachel Collins.  

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Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen said the following in a speech at Saturday's ceremony:

"In the early morning hours of June 14, 1953 Hudson Police Officer Clarence Erickson and fellow Hudson Officer Ray Hansen, were on duty when their police radios notified them of a police pursuit heading toward the City of Hudson. St. Croix County deputy sheriffs were chasing an armed robbery suspect by the name of Wilfred J. Goneau."

"Earlier that morning Goneau had robbed an Amery, WI, tavern of over $400 and was heading south when he was spotted by deputies Harry Dieltz and Lee Murphy and when Deputy Murphy opened Goneau's car door, Goneau shot Murphy in the shoulder and then sped away towards Hudson."

"Officer Erickson and Hansen setup a road block on the north end of the city limits and waited for Goneau's car. They forced Goneau's vehicle into a retaining wall where it became disabled. Goneau got out of his vehicle and ran up a flight of stone stairs with officer Erickson following close behind." 

"Officer Erickson made a flying tackle and stopped Goneau's escape. Erickson fought with Goneau in an attempt to subdue him, however, Goneau was able to reach his handgun and he fired at Erickson hitting him in the leg." 

"Goneau then took Officer Erickson's sidearm and went back down the stairs where he engaged in a running gun battle with Officer Hansen. Both men were shooting at each other as they moved north along the stone retaining wall." 

"As this battle ensued Officer Erickson was able to get up on top of the grassy area above Goneau and follow him as he headed northward. When Goneau reached the end of the stone wall Officer Erickson again tackled him and tried to take him into custody. However, Goneau was able to break free from Erickson and at close range Goneau shot Erickson in the chest, killing him." 

"Goneau then got into Officer Erickson's squad car and attempted to flee. However, he was badly wounded in the left leg from his gun battle with Officer Hansen and he was unable to get the vehicle to move. Goneau was then gunned down by Officer Hansen and deputies Dieltz and Murphy." 

"Officer Erickson was just 26 years old when he died, and only 16 days away from completing his first full year on the department. He left behind a wife who had found out the week before that she was pregnant with the couple's first child. "