Jason started with the police department on July 18th. August 3rd rocked the whole department. Sergent Michael Chretien was coming home from camping with his family, when his trailer started to fishtail on the highway. Losing control, the truck and trailer flipped landing on the driver side killing Mike. His wife and 3 kids were hurt but not badly. That afternoon, our hearts sank to hear of the news. Mike had been in charge of the training program for the new recruits. Jason got to spend some time with him and did a couple of ride-alongs with Mike before he was even hired.
3 weeks into this new vocation, Jason makes the front page of the Powell Tribune as an honorary pall bearer at a police funeral. Mike was cremated, so for the procession, the whole force were pall bearers.
Because he and Reece (on the left) are the rookies, they were at the end of the line. This was the front page picture.
A police funeral is unlike any other. Other agencies in the state, send up representatives to attend the funeral. Unfortunately the first week in August had a couple of other officer funerals. Some of our guys headed to southern Wyoming to attend a Sheriff's funeral who drowned while trying to save a girl in a flooded river. That happened on a Monday. The next day in Rapid City, SD there was a deadly shooting of two cops and one badly injured. Then Wednesday, we get the news of Mike. Just not a good way to start off a week.
There were probably up to 30 different departments represented there, plus the ambulance and dispatchers. The local sheriff's department helped out our guys a lot the day of the funeral. Their dispatcher came to take over so the girls could attend and their patrols were out so the guys could all attend. There was a processional of all the duty cars which was lead by Mike's car with a wreath on it,
that wound around town and ended at the ceremony site.
That's a long processional when you add all of the out of town cars too. (Jason is in the middle and back. He doesn't have a car yet, but drove an officer's that was out of town and unable to make it)
The ceremony was very somber. Many still in shock and disbelief that this was happening. The gospel message was presented by his friend who happens to be a pastor and friend of ours. That was probably the hardest part for us, we didn't know where Mike stood with God. From what others have said, he was asking a lot of questions, but we don't know if he believed. Somehow, that just puts a damper on a celebration of a life.
Because Mike had also been in the military, after we moved outside, a 21 gun salute was given as well as playing of taps and a flag presentation to his wife. Then the police department added the police element. They did what is called a Last Transaction. The dispatcher calls Mike's number over the radios. When on duty they have to respond, but of course there was no response. He was called again and then the news of his death was announced. "Your job is done. Thank you for serving your community and your country. Rest in peace" It is a very emotional thing to hear. That radio is a cop's life line to his where abouts and his safety. For a dispatcher, you never want to hear silence on the other end.
They then loaded up all the cars and drove to a reception for officers and families. It was a chance for me and Reece's wife to meet the other wives. We've been told that this department is a pretty tight family that we have entered into. It will be fun getting to know more of them, hopefully, in an off duty way.
