Fargo officer remembered as ‘brave young man’

A Fargo police officer who was ambushed and fatally shot by a heavily armed man was laid to rest on Saturday.

Twenty-three-year-old Jake Wallin was killed July 14 when a man armed with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, multiple guns and explosives began firing on officers who were responding to a traffic crash.

Two other officers and a civilian were wounded before a fourth officer returned fire, killing gunman Mohamad Barakat.

The police procession of 10 squad cars and three buses carrying department employees left Fargo early Saturday for Pequot Lakes.

Aunt Jodi Wallin recounted her nephew as “the little boy I adored who grew into the young man I admired and was oh so proud of.”

Chaplain Jordan Helming, who served with Wallin in Iraq, recalled his dedication as a soldier and his positive personality amid a changing mission as well as restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic.  “Jake could see the big picture in life, and he realized that it took long, disciplined, steady efforts to get you to the top of the mountain,” Helming said.

Wallin’s parents received two Fargo police awards and the Minnesota Distinguished Service Medal in honor of their son at the service.

Authorities say Wallin was cremated in his police uniform. The Fargo Police Department escorted his cremains Saturday to Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, where his funeral service was held.

A public memorial service is planned for Wednesday in Fargo.