Risks of the Job --- A Reality Check
If you are a student studying criminal justice, you are probably learning about the dangers and risks that come with being a law enforcement officer, correctional officer or parole/probation officer.
If you are a professional in the field of criminal justice, you already know the dangers and risks “of the job.” Law enforcement is one of only a few careers where danger and even death are part of the job description. Those of us in the Fargo-Moorhead area have been reminded of this fact following a recent shooting of a sheriff’s deputy.
Christopher Dewey, 26, a Mahnomen County (Minnesota) sheriff’s deputy, was shot in the abdomen and head while on duty Wednesday, February 18, 2009. At the time of the shooting, Deputy Dewey was responding to a residence in Mahnomen to a call of someone knocking on the door. According to a newspaper article:
Dewey arrived at that residence as the two males were still on the steps in front of the woman’s home. One of the individuals — later identified as Vernier — walked past Dewey. Dewey side stepped and the other male — later identified as Fairbanks — stepped forward and fired two rounds at Dewey, hitting him in the abdomen and right side of his head.
One minute after he arrived at the scene, a resident called in that someone had been shot. Peterson heard the shots and radioed Dewey to see if he had heard them. When there was no response, Peterson drove to the area and noticed Dewey’s squad car rolling backwards. He also saw the two suspects, one with a gun, run across the street to the trailer house.
Peterson put the car in park and radioed for backup.
Dewey was taken to Mahnomen Health Center and lifeflighted to MeritCare. His gunshot wounds caused damage to his liver and one bullet was still in his nasal cavity.
. . . .
Officers surrounded the West Washington Avenue residence to detain the two occupants, which turned into a standoff involving over 150 law enforcement agents. During that time, gunshots were fired inside the trailer house. Evidence showed later four shots were fired at a north wall in the general direction of law enforcement.
Vernier surrendered around 9:30 a.m. and Fairbanks surrendered around 4 p.m.
After two surgeries the day of the shooting, Deputy Dewey continues to improve. He is being transferred to a hospital in Colorado for further rehabilitation. You can read about Deputy Dewey’s progress at his CaringBridge website at www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.
Although the shooting happened in Minnesota, our law local enforcement community has been affected by the event. Chris was a patient at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo. From the time he arrived, our local law enforcement officers have stepped forward to offer any help needed. Sheriff’s deputies, police officers, and state troopers from both Minnesota and North Dakota kept vigil with Emily and family the first few days. Several North Dakota and Minnesota officers and deputies worked extra shifts helping to arrange hotel rooms, transportation, coordinate visits and calls from family members and friends, and also provided assistance in responding to numerous media inquiries. These examples exemplify the "law enforcement family."
So, what’s the reality check for all of us?
1. Our law enforcement officers (at any level) face death and injury every day.
Officers are willing to sacrifice their lives to keep us safe. (Our beloved Military personnel and firemen fall into this category as well—God Bless them!). Indeed, they run to the shots of gunfire while we run away. How does a person develop this sense of sacrifice and bravery?
2. The job has many challenges.
The other deputies hearing of the shooting responded to the shooting as they had been trained by first helping their wounded partner and then by locating the suspects and taking them into custody without further incident.
3. There truly is a law enforcement family.
The shooting of an officer resonates through the law enforcement profession. Our local law enforcement community (Cass County, Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Clay County, etc.) as well as all emergency responders have been touched by this event. Prayers, words of encouragement, financial assistance and various offers of help have been sent to the Dewey family from officers from around the United States and even other countries! I am amazed to see the sense of family and support and am proud to be part of such camaraderie.
4. The cliché is true: “Life is precious!”
Each of us can be affected at any moment by a life-changing event. Let us be prepared and ready for such an event.
Final thoughts: Our confidence and hope for the future
Deputy Dewey has made it through the most critical phase of his injuries, but he has many months of rehabilitation. Please keep Deputy Dewey and his wife Emily in your prayers and thoughts. Also, please keep all law enforcement officers in your thoughts and prayers as well as they continue to serve bravely and with honor.
If you are currently a law enforcement officer, thank you for your bravery, service and sense of sacrifice.
If you are a student in criminal justice, continue your education and training toward a rewarding career. We look forward to adding additional officers to the profession who demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, bravery, and sacrifice. You need only look to Deputy Chris Dewey for your role model.