Sheriff defends Fox Lake stand-off actions
Last week, law enforcement was forced into a tactical situation. This was in response to a 50-year-old man who made a conscious decision to resist arrest for a simple child support warrant. Rather than cooperate like 99 percent of those arrested, he chose to batter a uniformed law enforcement officer and threaten him with a rifle. He made that call. He decided to barricade himself in his home thinking he was going to win.
For the next seven hours he decided to remain in his home rather than surrender. He chose to stay armed in his house. He chose to tell law enforcement that he was armed and was not coming out. He chose to remain in the home after the initial volley of tear gas canisters. He wanted the gas to stop and could have shut if off himself by peacefully surrendering. He chose not to. The man was on the phone with negotiators for four hours and he determined his fate and the fate of his home and property, not law enforcement.
The gas continued, his house seriously damaged due to the efforts law enforcement had to take because he wanted to be stubborn. His family remarks he did nothing wrong. Others state it was overkill by law enforcement. I disagree.
I will gladly destroy a home before I risk an officer's life by sending them into the home of an intoxicated and barricaded subject wielding a loaded 30.06 rifle. You can always replace broken windows, carpets and clothing. You can never replace a father, a husband or a son.
I give great credit to the members of Dodge County and Green Lake County SWAT, city and township of Fox Lake PD, Beaver Dam PD, Fox Lake Fire and EMS, DCERT and Dodge County EM for the teamwork and the best resolution in the world - no injury, no deaths and the bad guy in custody.
Too often, people think they know how best to bring a situation to resolution. How many of them hold the lives of their employees in their hands and are willing to put their lives at risk? But then again, they are not paid to protect and serve and more than likely never had to make a death notification to a family of someone killed in the line of duty.
— Todd Nehls
Dodge County sheriff
A fitting Memorial Day tribute in Lowell/Reeseville
Mother Nature was good this past Memorial Day.
The Lowell VFW Post 9392 gives thanks to those in the parade and to those on the streets in support of the veterans of the United States.
What is a Memorial Day parade without military vehicles. Chester Caine had his sons, grandson, driving a Jeep, halftrack, duck, Humvee, ambulance, cargo truck and a large wrecker. I hope that many had their cameras along. The Dodgeland band made the day with its marching music and the beating drum, much like the rhythm of the Lowell VFW and Reeseville Legion Post 190 keeping in step and Old Glory waving in the wind.
This year, there was something added to the ceremony. It took place overhead with four airplanes. Rick Gempeler of the Lowell Police Department was ground-to-air coordinator with radio contact to the pilots to fly over the bridge at the time the wreath was dropped from the bridge into the water. Thanks to Dale Wahl, Tommy Cristea-Rist, Sasa Seamet and Pete Minz who had the yellow T-6 miliary trainer aircraft — what a sound!
He gave the controls to VFW member Harold Sack Sr. to fly over Lowell and Reeseville. Harold said that the last time he flew this type of plane was in 1951. Pete Minz is from Oconomowoc and is in the plumbing business. Pete said he was never in the military and was proud and honored to participate in this Memorial Day event and to be able to thank those who served our country.
Thanks to the Reeseville Legion Post 190 and the guest speaker James Kell from the Horicon American Legion.
From Reeseville, the ceremony ended at the Lowell VFW Post where the Legion did the serving.
It was a special day for Chester Caine when a long-time dream came true. He was presented a plaque by Post Commander Sheldon Green, which read: "Chester Caine Military Museum" and was proudly fastened above the new museum door. Thanks, Chet, for all you have done.
And thanks to all who helped make this an honored Memorial Day 2009.
— Jim Haines
Reeseville