Chris Dewey, a four-year veteran of the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Department who was shot in the line of duty, was recently awarded two prestigious medals in honor of his service.

On Thursday, July 23, Mahnomen County Sheriff Doug Krier presented Dewey with the Medal of Honor on behalf of the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office and the community of Mahnomen County.

Chris Dewey

“I told Chris that because of his strong attitude and belief and his not willing to give up, made him an inspiration to everyone who has read this site,” wrote Krier on Dewey’s CaringBridge Web site.

Dewey was also presented with the Purple Heart award, presented by the American Police Hall of Fame National Awards Program.

Krier said he was contacted by Officer John Pasko of the Melborn Police Department in Florida, who had been following Dewey’s Web site for some time. Pasko contacted The American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville, Fla., and nominated Dewey for the Purple Heart.

Krier was notified late last week that Dewey would receive the award.

Sheriff Krier presented the Purple Heart to Dewey joined by Jerry Whittman, Denver Chief of Police; Officers Danny Vieth, Henry Jones, and Dean Christopherson of the Denver Police Department; and Commander Sam Watson and Sgt. Reed McGrath of the Englewood Police Department.

The American Police Hall of Fame National Awards Program  was founded in 1960, and recognizes the positive actions of law enforcement officers and citizens who assist them.

Dewey, a 2001 graduate of Cambridge-Isanti High School, was shot once in the head and once in the abdomen while on duty during the early morning hours of Feb. 18.

He was airlifted from the Mahnomen Hospital to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. and was in intensive care for five days and acute care until March 5.

Following MeritCare, Dewey was transported to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo. where he is undergoing intense rehabilitative physical therapy.

Ways to help
• A donation fund has been set up at the Mahnomen State Bank and Trust at: P.O. Box 378 103 N. Main St. Mahnomen, MN 56557, and at any Wells Fargo.
• To order a t-shirt online visit http://www.hornetcountryspiritwear.com/dewey.html
• Updates on Dewey’s recovery can be found via CaringBridge at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey

Comments (1)

Jeff Edblad: ... Your actions and sacrifice remain in the thoughts of the Isanti County Attorneys Office, and we continue to pray for your complete recovery. 1 July 27, 2009

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