Bostrom, a young St. Paul police officer at the time, arrived on the scene just minutes after Sackett was ambushed in front of a house at the corner of Hague and Victoria Avenues, killed by a sniper's bullet on May 22, 1970.

"I got there, I knew he was mortally wounded right away," Bostrom said. "His youngest child was just three weeks old, at the time this happened, and it is a life-changing event and something you never forget."

Bostrom said Sackett's death has stayed with him 48 years later and it has actually shaped his approach to his personal and professional life, including his public policy decisions.

"You understand just how sensitive life is and how it can change that fast," Bostrom said. "As we talk about and do housing issues that we've dealt with, it's really about protecting citizens safety and making sure people are in safe housing."

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Bostrom said the rebirth of Payne Avenue and the Phalen Boulevard corridor project are other examples of where improved commercial areas and clean development can help enhance public safety.

"It is just a fact that all these things you do to improve neighborhoods leads to safer environments," Bostrom said. "My dad always said the harder you work, the luckier you get and, you know, dad was right."

Bostrom was a police officer for 27 years, served 10 years on the St. Paul Board of Education and then 23 years on the St. Paul City Council.

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"It has been an honor to do all these things and serve the people of St. Paul, especially for an East side kid," Bostrom said. "I am humbled by the thousands of lives we've been able to touch over the years."

Bostrom's first wife died several years ago, his middle son died just a few months ago and he suffered a heart attack two years ago.

Now, at age 78, he wants to focus on a second marriage, and those are the biggest reasons he's choosing retirement with one year left in his City Council term.

"My dad also had a great saying about things when you decide what's next, " Bostrom said. "Dad said you can be right, or you can be happy and have a successful marriage and I guess I want to concentrate on having a successful marriage."

Bostrom officially retires Dec. 31 and the City Council already is accepting applications to fill his seat. They will vote on a candidate to take over representation of the city's 6th Ward before the end of January.