Richfield Patch covered a lot of different stories, topics and events throughout 2012, but there were a few that stood out as the most interesting, important or possibly infamous to our readers.

As far as local law enforcement went, there was plenty that happened in the last year:

Longest Serving Richfield Officer Retires as Police Chief

After 36 years of service, Barry Fritz handed the Richfield Public Safety reigns to Todd Sandell in late March. Fritz held nearly every rank as a Richfield officer.

Our coverage:

• Richfield Police Chief Retires After 36 Years of Service
• Richfield Public Safety Chief Works to Preserve Department History

Richfield Couple Attacked in Their Home

In possibly one of the most disturbing tales in recent Richfield history, an elderly couple was attacked in their home Feb. 28 by a man who had done odd jobs around the house. The husband was killed and the wife badly wounded.

Leon Henry Anderson, who was officially charged with murder and attempted murder a few weeks after the incident, is awaiting a March 2013 trial.

Our coverage:

• Updated: Third Victim Not Stabbed in Richfield
• Follow-Up: Richfield Police Looking for Missing Vehicle from Double Stabbing Incident
• Follow-Up: Man Charged With Murder After Attack on Richfield Couple
• UPDATE: Man Officially Charged in Richfield Murder

Cold Case Murder Solved

Fourteen years after a shooting in the Richfield Chi-Chi's restaurant parking lot, that left one man dead and another seriously wounded, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office charged a Brooklyn Center man in July.

Our coverage:

• Richfield Police, County Attorney To Announce Arrest In Cold Case Murder
• UPDATED: Man Charged In 1998 Chi-Chi's Gang Related Shooting, Murder
• (UPDATED) Follow-Up: Man Charged In Cold Case Murder

Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves Suspect Dead

Jeffery Michael O'Connor, 25, died of multiple gunshot wounds after a Richfield officer shot him inside a residence on the 6600 block of Park Avenue around 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5. Richfield officers responded to a report of an emotionally disturbed man and a possible hostage situation. O'Connor was reportedly wielding a knife when the officer shot and killed him.

Our coverage:

• Officer-Involved Shooting in Richfield; Police Investigating
• UPDATED: Richfield Officer Shoots and Kills Man in Friday Incident
• UPDATE: Authorities Release Name of Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting
• Police Chief Releases Statement, Names Officers Involved in Friday Shooting
• October Officer-Involved Shooting Still Under Review
• Police Shoot and Kill Richfield Man: No. 6 Story of the Year

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