St. Paul’s police chief on Thursday named a homicide investigator as Detective of the Year and a patrol officer who regularly recovers firearms and large amounts of drugs as Officer of the Year.

Sgt. Jennifer O’Donnell, a St. Paul officer of more than 30 years who works in the homicide/robbery unit, was the primary investigator on 156 homicides, robberies and aggravated assaults last year and assisted on more, according to her commendation. She was the primary investigator in the fatal shooting of Nicholas Sletten, 42, in the North End in October.

Murder charges were filed in January. “This was a complex investigation that required ongoing intensive work,” said O’Donnell’s commendation, which described her and her colleagues as working “tirelessly” on the case.

Chief Axel Henry named Ab

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