Retired St. Paul Police Officer Felicia Reilly, 67, died Saturday — 15 years after an assault on the job left her with a traumatic brain injury.
Retired Minnesota Officer Dies 15 Years After On-Duty Assault
Her family said St. Paul Police Officer Felicia Reilly's death was a result of the injuries she sustained that resulted in her experiencing constant pain.
by Staff
March 3, 2025
Retired St. Paul Police Officer Felicia Reilly died Saturday. Her family believes her death was the result of an on-duty attack that left her with traumatic brain injury.
Credit:
St. Paul PD
1 min to read
Her family said her death was a result of the injuries she sustained that resulted in her experiencing constant pain.
The St. Paul Police Retirement Association claims Reilly is the first female St. Paul officer to die from injuries received on the job, KARE reports.
"It's been 15 years of a long, painful road and it's done now," said Matthew Reilly, Felicia's eldest son.
On March 24, 2010, Reilly was attacked while responding to a domestic dispute. According to Reilly's family, Thomas Swenson kicked Reilly in the back of the head multiple times. A jury found Swenson guilty of first-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and obstructing the legal process, and he was sentenced to 8 1/2 years.
"Over time, the damage she received in that assault... some of the damage was to her brain. Some of the damage was to her vagus nerve... controls a lot of your bodily systems. Over time, things break down," Matt said.
More Patrol
5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show
5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.
Read More →
5.11 Debuts New Load-Bearing Gear at SHOT Show
5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
Streamlight Launches the Rechargeable TLR-3X & Other Lights at SHOT Show
Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
EOTech & Fast Metal Introduce the EOTech Halen Ballistic Spectacle System
Built on the proven Halen platform, the new EOTech x Fast Metal Halen Ballistic Spectacle System is the only aluminum frame listed on the U.S. Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.
Read More →
2 Florida Officers Shot After Shots-Fired Call
Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.
Read More →
Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS
An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.
Read More →
Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →