Minnesota Board Denies Parole for Ron Reed in 1970 Officer Killing
A split vote by the Minnesota Supervised Release Board, ultimately decided by the Commissioner of Corrections, has denied parole to Ron Reed, who was convicted of killing St. Paul Police Officer Jim Sackett in 1970. Reed has served over 20…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, September 11, 2026 — The Minnesota Supervised Release Board has denied parole to Ron Reed, who was convicted of the 1970 killing of St. Paul Police Officer Jim Sackett. The decision followed a split vote by the board, with the final determination made by the Commissioner of Corrections.
Ron Reed has been serving a life sentence for the death of Officer Sackett. According to the information provided, Reed has served more than 20 years of his sentence. The details of the board’s split vote and the specific rationale provided by the Commissioner of Corrections for denying parole were not immediately available.
Officer Jim Sackett was killed in St. Paul in 1970. The conviction of Ron Reed for this incident has led to his ongoing incarceration. The Minnesota Supervised Release Board is responsible for reviewing parole eligibility for individuals convicted of certain crimes in the state.
The process for parole consideration typically involves an evaluation of an inmate’s behavior, rehabilitation efforts, and the severity of their original offense. In this case, the board’s initial vote was divided, indicating differing perspectives among its members regarding Reed’s suitability for release. The ultimate decision rested with the Commissioner of Corrections, whose authority is often invoked when a board vote is split.
The length of time Reed has already served exceeds two decades. Further information regarding the specifics of the parole hearing, the nature of the split vote, and any potential future review dates was not disclosed.
Story summarized from the original created by Joseph Swanson on kstp.com, see more information here.
