Dodge County deputy shot, wounded while investigating disturbance at park
Dodge County deputy shot, wounded while investigating disturbance
A Dodge County Sheriff's deputy was hurt after being shot by a suspect in the Town of Elba on Sunday night, June 14.
VILLAGE OF ELBA, Wis. - A Dodge County Sheriff's deputy was hurt after being shot by a suspect in the Town of Elba on Sunday night, June 14.
The deputy was transported to UW Hospital in Madison with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. After receiving medical treatment, the deputy was released from the hospital early Monday morning.
Deputy shot
What we know:
According to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, shortly before 7 p.m. deputies responded to a report of an intoxicated man causing a disturbance and exhibiting threatening behavior toward members of the public at River Run Dog Park.
Responding officers and deputies tracked down the suspect. As they attempted to engage him, the suspect fired at them, striking a Dodge County Sheriff’s deputy.
River Run Dog Park, Town of Elba
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After firing at law enforcement and wounding the deputy, the suspect retreated to his vehicle.
Officers and deputies then established a secure perimeter and coordinated a tactical response to safely resolve the incident.
Officers later found the suspect dead inside his vehicle. Preliminary reports indicate he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt indicated on Monday afternoon that the suspect is a 50-year-old man from Cottage Grove. He would not name him out of respect for the man's family, which is also grieving at this time.
No law enforcement officers discharged their weapons during the incident.
Officials said there was no indication of a threat to the public outside the affected area. Residents and motorists were urged to follow all law enforcement instructions and avoid entering the area.
Sheriff weighs in
What they're saying:
Sheriff Schmidt said the deputy who was wounded has been with the sheriff's office for seven years. But before he became a deputy, he was a volunteer for the agency for about eight years.
"I want to talk a little bit about the deputy that was injured," Sheriff Schmidt said. "I'm still not releasing his name. But I will tell you that he has been a seven year, deputy for the sheriff's office, but his career didn't start there. He started long before that and also worked part time in a part time capacity. Was also a volunteer for the agency for about eight years, and really has been part of the sheriff's office family for over 13 years. He came to work expecting to answer calls and serve the public, instead found him in a life threatening situation. "
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt
The sheriff said this incident could have had a much different outcome were it not for the protective gear the deputy was wearing.
"We came very, very close to tragedy last night, and I thought many times that I was going to be planning a funeral today, and I had the opportunity to walk out of the hospital with him walking. It was incredible. The deputy was struck several times," Schmidt said.
Sheriff Schmidt made a pitch for more protective vests because there are not enough of them for every deputy to have one. Each vest costs roughly $560. In order to outfit all deputies in the sheriff's office, Schmidt said it would cost roughly $11,000.
"Believe it or not, we are all people to. When we go home and we take this uniform off, we are fathers, we are mothers, we are brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, sons and daughters, people just like everybody else, hoping that when they come to work. They take on that calling that they can go back to them each and every day," Schmidt said.
The sheriff said when he went to the hospital to see the deputy, the deputy asked if he could take some work home to work on while he was off. The sheriff told him no, that he was going to spend some time with family.
Shelter-in-place lifted
Dig deeper:
The shelter-in-place order has been lifted, and there is no ongoing threat to the community. Based on information obtained during the investigation, law enforcement does not believe any additional suspects were involved in this incident.
Highway 73 was closed between Highway 151 and the city of Columbus. Motorists were asked to use alternate routes and expect the closure to remain in place until the situation was resolved.
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The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department were also involved in the response.
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office has requested that the Columbia County Sheriff's Office facilitate an officer-involved incident investigation into the circumstances surrounding the initial shooting incident.
Through a multi-jurisdictional officer-involved incident investigation team, investigators from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Waupaca County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, and Juneau County Sheriff's Office will be conducting the investigation.
The Source: The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office provided information in this report.