Former Burnsville officer honored with salute, surrounded by family, colleagues as he enters hospice care

ST PAUL, Minn. — Near the end of his life, Steve Hoppert says he feels wonderful.

For days, he has been surrounded by family, friends and former colleagues from the Burnsville Police Department, many stopping by to visit and share stories with the longtime public servant.

“The palliative nurse comes up to my daughter and myself and says that, ‘I have never in my career seen so many people come and visit one patient,’” Steve's wife, Becky Hoppert, said.

“I didn’t know he was respected like that,” she sa...