OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PODCAST

A young local Sheriff that everyone liked in this small Minnesota community, Sheriff Joseph Rogers had been this town's top cop for about two years when the brutal assault of a local couple and the assault of an unsuspecting farmer led him to being handed the task of hunting down those responsible, only to result in a gun battle that he would not survive.  His murder would lead to chaos in this co...

In this special episode, we'll talk about some of the stories coming soon on the podcast and we share Scott's visit with the Tom Barnard Show on the morning of National Law Enforcement Memorial Day.  If you haven't checked out Tom's show, it's a must to add to your podcast list.  Tom and his crew are so much fun to listen to and start your day! You can find out more at tombarnardshow.com or search...

In this special episode I'm on the air in Tuscon AZ with Ben Buehler-Garcia from American Warrior Radio hosting the Buckmaster Radio show along with Nohemy Hite from the Erik Hite Foundation - Nohemy shares her husband's story along with their foundation, I talk about the Officer Down Memorial Podcast, and we discuss the importance of remembering and honoring our fallen.  Nohemy's mission is inspi...

A local law enforcement leader everyone loved and recognized, a cop everyone in this small rural county knew and loved. Loring Guenther moved to this community to make a difference, and he left a positive impact on everyone he ever came into contact with.  A series of office scandals and indiscretions, along with a new Sheriff who's leadership style did not align with Loring's, created a toxic wor...

In this podcast I talk with COPS Multimedia Specialist Tony Williams about the organization, it's history, and it's long list of services and support it provides for agencies, officers currently serving and their families, and survivor families.  We also talked about their wellness programs and some planning services for cops - services I had no idea they provided.  We also talk about National Pol...

A local Sheriff who grew up in the community and committed his career to helping the youth of his county, Sheriff Don Eustice served his entire law enforcement career in Waseca County after serving our country in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1948.  In a time in the 70's where being Sheriff involved the entire family, Don's family tells the stories of growing up Sheriffs' sons and daughters....

This is a special episode of the Officer Down Memorial Podcast.   Periodically, when we're working on new fallen hero episodes, we'll share additional content and interviews Scott has done with other podcasters.   This one was done a couple of years ago on the nationally syndicated Law Enforcement Today Radio and Podcast Show with Jay Wiley where they talked about child predator internet stings th...

Chief Greg Lange was loved by all in this small town of 530 people, located just 30 minutes west of Rochester in SE Minnesota. The doors to his home were always open for kids after school who had nowhere else to go.  It was the end of a long 4th of July holiday weekend, and the city was finally quieting down for the night before a loud knock on the door woke Greg up.  It was a young local gal aski...

A Financial Crimes Investigator for the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office offers to help Homeland Security search for a missing female juvenile who ran away from Florida with a young male who had flown in from the UK.   Homeland Security has information that these two fled to Eau Claire Wisconsin where Investigator Bill Gray served.   Bill locates the male and is close to locating the female before...

In this episode we do a quick review of our 2022 hero stories, share a sampling of stories for new listeners checking us out, and share a sincere thank you and Christmas greeting to all of our loyal subscribers and supporters.   Find out more about these stories on our website at www.officerdownmemorialpodcast.com , and make sure to subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an...

A local cop everyone in this community knew and loved. A known prankster in his department. Everyone called him Tommy. He showed everyone he came in contact with respect and compassion regardless of the circumstances. On this night Tommy responded with his partner to do a welfare check to check on a suicidal subject. Minutes after going out on scene, Tommy was shot and killed outside Winner's Bar...

A gang ordered murder of a cop in retaliation for an alleged assault of an elderly black man on a bus, the subsequent murder of an alleged informant, a community afraid to serve on the jury, even defendents afraid to testify concerned the police won't be able to protect them from the Vice Lords and their leader Sharif Willis - who was implicated in Jerry's murder but never indicted.​​  Jerry was 5...

A gang ordered murder of a cop in retaliation for an alleged assault of an elderly black man on a bus, the subsequent murder of an alleged informant, a community afraid to serve on the jury, even defendents afraid to testify concerned the police wouldn't be able to protect them from the Vice Lords and their leader Sharif Willis - who was implicated in Jerry's murder but never indicted.​​   This is...

As one officer takes a stolen vehicle report at a local mall, another officer locates the vehicle and before he can stop it, gets rammed by the suspect and the chase is on.  The suspect had a lengthy criminal history including previous vehicle thefts and he was determined to get away at any cost.  35 miles and around 30 minutes later, Investigator Liebenstein lost his life ending this dangerous pu...

THE JACK WERNER STORY Jack Dean Werner proudly served in Vietnam and later as a Deputy for the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office in SE MN.  In May of 1977, a confrontation in the Apache Mall parking lot cost him his life – murdered by a young man whose mission was to kill a cop that night.  Deputy Werner left behind a young family and community stunned by his loss.      WARNING: Violent Content may...

THE DUSTIN REICHERT STORY Today we remember the day we nearly lost Deputy Dustin Reichert from the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.  In 2003, the small town of Andover Minnesota was rocked by an officer involved shooting.  A routine loud noise complaint ended in a shooting that left one dead and one with career ending gunshot wounds.  Two deputies share their involvement, their struggle with the inc...

THE DOUG CLAASSEN STORY Today we remember the service and sacrifice of Chief Doug Claassen from the Hayfield Police Department in SE Minnesota.  It was today in 1977 that would change the course of Chief Claassen's life and the the lives of his survivor family members forever.  Click this link for a preview.   You can find his complete story at www.officerdownmemorialpodcast.com or anywhere you li...

Deputy Brian Etheridge was a young, enthusiastic deputy just beginning his career with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office in Wichita Kansas.  On a fall afternoon, while finishing up lunch with fellow deputies, Brian was dispatched to a past action larceny complaint.  What should have been a simple report taking call ended in Brian being ambushed and shot by the very person he responded to help....

On our next episode we'll tell you about Deputy Brian Etheridge - a young, enthusiastic deputy just beginning his career with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office in Wichita Kansas back in 2009.  Click here to learn more....   Case File Photos on our website now at www.officerdownmemorialpodcast.com   The Officer Down Memorial Podcast is sponsored by:  www. LetRadioShow.com    

THE DOUG CLAASSEN STORY Today we remember the service and sacrifice of Chief Doug Claassen from the Hayfield Police Department in SE Minnesota.  An undiagnosed injury from a violent assault would change the course of Chief Claassen's life and the the lives of his survivor family members forever - and cost Chief Claassen his life on this day in 1999.  Click this link for a preview.   You can find h...

THE WILLIAM FREYTAG STORY William (Bill) H. Freytag was a proud father of 5, a full-time engineer at IBM, and an active Reserve Officer for the Rochester Police Department.  He loved his kids dearly and loved serving to help keep his community safe -  service that cost Bill his life in 1961 while working downtown.  He was the city's first fallen hero, Rochester PD's first recorded Line of Duty Dea...

THE THOMAS CARROLL STORY A well respected and well liked Detention Deputy, Thomas Carroll served as an Adult Detention Center Deputy in Minnesota for 9 years following his service as a US Navy Veteran.  A former Sheriff and Officer help tell the story of this man, his service to their community, and the sad and ironic circumstances on the day he lost his life.  Click here to listen to the preview....

It was 1940 in this lakeside community of Waterville Minnesota - all eyes were on World War II and the Depression.  Families were struggling to make ends meet.  The fishing business in southern Minnesota was one of the few industries helping to keep this small community a float during these tough times, providing food and jobs for the locals.  Unfortunately, this kind of stress and pressure has it...

The Officer Down Memorial Podcast will give you a glimpse of what law enforcement officers and their families go through every day to help keep our communities safe. These stories take you back in time to the era and the community where we lost these heroes. You'll feel like you were there when we lost this officer. These stories are real and raw. Our mission is to ensure their sacrifice is never...

We're working on a triple murder case from Minnesota - one of the worst law enforcement cases in the state's history.  Download this episode for more info on that story and when it will release, plus get updates on the progress of the podcast, and some new stories and other stuff coming up.  Thanks as always for listening and for your support.  Scott www.officerdownmemorialpodcast.com If you are i...