In memory of Officer Emily A Breidenbach

Emily with Officer Grizz

 Over the last few days I've given a number of interviews for several news outlets all wanting to know who Officer Emily Breidenbach was and what her loss means to our community. Where do you start? How do you do justice to any individual who passes unexpectedly and, in her case, in the line of duty?

Trying to be concise for their purposes is difficult. We have lost a darn good officer who wore a badge, carried a gun and helped maintain the public's safety. But like all good officers she did so much more than enforce the law. She built bridges into our community with kids and adults alike. In our schools, on our streets, downtown and around.

I first met Emily when she was a young girl back in the 90s. Her dad was our Chief of Police then and she would spend time at The Garage, the youth center that used to operate where AutoZone now is. From time to time I'd give her a ride home after we closed up shop. Many years later while on a ride along with now Officer Breidenbach we shared a laugh as our roles were now reversed and she was giving me a ride (and fortunately - for me - not in the back seat!)

My favorite picture of Emily (right) with another
fine officer in Lt. Jessica Larson (left)

Our son, Charlie, is on the autism spectrum and loves to build Legos models. In 2021 he was working steadily on a 6000+ piece model of Hogwarts Castle (of Harry Potter fame). Every day I was posting his progress on Facebook so that his grandparents and our friends could enjoy the journey with us. One early evening there was a knock on our front door from Lt. Jessica Larson and Officer Emily. They were stopping by as they wanted to see Charlie's work up close. I can tell you, Charlie was a bit curious why anyone would be interested in his work but in what town do you have two officers make a house call just to ooh and aah over someone's labor of love? This, in a nutshell, is what kind of Officer Emily was.

Not only did I get an education
but she gave me a treat to go with it

On that ride along I did with her on that Friday evening in May, she
bought me a cone at DQ, she followed up on a tip of someone who was attempting to solicit illegal drugs, she did a welfare check on an elderly resident and pulled someone over for an OWI. All in a day's work (or, in that case, a night's work). Personable and caring but professional and competent when duty called. In the last year, she took point on Chetek PD acquiring a therapy dog and became Officer Grizz's handler, yet another bridge into people's lives.

Serving dogs at the National Night Out

We have all lost a wonderful member of our Chetek family. May God bless her family, both her parents and siblings as well as the greater fraternity of officers which she was a member of. It's dangerous world out there and we will always need people like her to suit up and go into harm's way on our behalf. Thank you Officer Emily for your service. May God bless and keep you always.

Reading to a classroom of kindergartners
on Dr. Seuss' birthday 

requiescat in pace