The man convicted of killing a St. Paul police officer in 1970 was denied parole following a split decision by the Minnesota Supervised Release Board. Ronald Lindsey Reed, 76, faced the board on Friday to request supervised release for his role in the 1970 killing of Officer James Sackett. The board deadlocked in a 2-2 vote, leaving the final determination to Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell, who voted against granting freedom.
Officer Sackett was killed by gunfire in the line of duty on May 22, 1970, when he responded to what turned out to be a fake emergency call, according to the St. Paul Police Department. He left behind a wife and four children, including Julie Sackett, who was only 14 months old at the time of the tragedy. Decades passed before a Ramsey County jury convicted Reed in 2006 of one count each of aiding and abetting first-degree premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder.
Legal Framework and Board Deliberations
Reed was originally sentenced to life in prison under 1970 sentencing guidelines, which permitted parole eligibility after a minimum of 17 years of incarceration, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He became eligible to seek release in September 2021 and has appeared before the board multiple times since. Minnesota law has since changed; individuals convicted of the first-degree murder of a peace officer today face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
During the proceedings leading up to Friday’s decision, board members weighed various statutory factors, including community risk assessments, prison conduct, and community support. While some board members noted that Reed maintained stable housing prospects and positive conduct reports behind bars, the heavy weight of public and institutional opposition heavily influenced the outcome.
When Reed directly asked Commissioner Schnell following the vote why he took such a hardline position, Schnell cited “victim and public sentiment,” as reported by CBS News. Schnell further clarified during the session that while he was not positioned to re-litigate questions of innocence, the parole process is not designed to resolve those specific concerns.
Reactions From Family and Law Enforcement
Julie Sackett told reporters that while her family is pleased with the board’s decision to block his release, facing repeated hearings takes an emotional toll, marking this as their fifth parole board encounter.
Law enforcement organizations also welcomed the outcome. In a public statement following the vote, the St. Paul Police Federation emphasized that the sacrifice of Officer Sackett remains deeply honored by the community and the department, asserting that the board ultimately reached the correct conclusion.
Reed, who turned 76 the week prior to the decision, has consistently maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration, stating during a previous board hearing that he is not the individual portrayed by the media and public record. Despite his arguments focusing on his prison outreach and rehabilitation efforts, the board’s split vote ensures his continued imprisonment.
What Comes Next
With the Supervised Release Board issuing a split 2-2 vote and Commissioner Schnell casting the deciding vote against release, Reed’s petition has been officially rejected. Under the board’s directives, the case will not return for reconsideration for another 18 months, setting the next review checkpoint for March 2028, according to state records. Authorities will maintain his current custody status at least until that time.
