Deputy Chris Dewey

[Big A]

This has been posted to Deputy Dewey's caringbridge site.

If anyone is in the area and has a chance to pay respect to this man and his family. Please do so. Believe me. IT IS APPRECIATED AND GOES A LONG WAY!

As long as the light is on at the residence. All are welcome.

Thank you

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey

The past couple of days have reminded me so much of the days following Chris’ shooting. A whirlwind filled with friends, family, and tons of support. As difficult as this has been, I am very much at peace with it. My brave husband has been so strong during these 17 months, but it is time to allow him the privilege of meeting our Lord.

Tonight we finally met our goal of bringing Chris home. With the help of hospice we will be able to care for Chris in the environment he deserves to be in….home.

My parents have opened their home to anyone who wishes to visit with Chris and our family and encourage those of you who would like to do so. For those of you with that new-fangled technology called GPS…their address is: 6725 Spencerbrook Dr. Princeton, MN 55371. For those fellow country folk it is about 3.5 miles West of Bradford on the corner of Isanti County 40 and 7. We’ll try to have something on the mailbox to make it a bit easier.

Also, the Minneapolis Bomb Squad is AMAZING. They went above and beyond the call of duty to grant Chris’ wish of blowing up his ‘monkey hat.’

I truly can’t thank all of you enough for your support and prayers. Once again, this site is helping me and my family get through this challenging time.

Em

[bottomdweller]

Prayers for Chris and his family are being sent.

[Born2Fish]

I thought I would share this. It is from Chris Deweys Caring Bridge Journal:

MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010 1:05 PM, CDT

Chris's long and painful battle is over. At 10:33 am he went peacefully with the Lord.

[Born2Fish]

Quote:

A Mahnomen County Sheriff's Deputy who was shot in the line of duty in February 2009 died Monday morning.

Christopher Dewey had been making steady progress in his recovering since being shot more than a year ago, but took a turn for the worse July 15 when something went wrong with a medical procedure. Dewey had been getting Botox injections to relieve pain and stress in his muscles, but the family said one round of injections caused a lung to collapse, putting pressure on his heart.

Dewey died at home around 10:30 a.m. Monday. He was surrounded by family.

"Chris is now at peace," said Chris' uncle, Eric Dewey. "We thank the community for their support."

For the family, especially Chris' wife, Emily, the last couple weeks has really been the time they've gotten to tell Chris goodbye. They've been preparing for his passing, knowing he just wasn't able to fight the medical problems he faced.

Emily Dewey spoke with WCCO-TV's James Schugel Monday morning. "He's now with the Lord," she said. Emily was able to spend a lot of time alone with Chris before he passed.

On Feb. 18, 2009 Chris Dewey was shot several times, including once in the head, as he investigated a report of a suspected drunk driver and of shots fired in Mahnomen. When Dewey did not answer a call on his radio, his backup deputy came to find him lying in a driveway.

That led to a nine-hour standoff with law enforcement at a nearby mobile home. Thomas Lee Fairbanks, 32, eventually surrendered to police. Another suspect, 27-year-old Daniel Kurt Vernier, had been arrested earlier.

Dewey was taken to a Mahnomen hospital where he was put into a medically induced coma for transport to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. Doctors said he had a severe brain injury and was in critical, but stable condition. Sheriff Doug Krier visited Dewey and said he believed the wounded deputy would survive. Doctors were hesitant to make a prognosis, but said after only a day Dewey was able to recognize his family.

Five days after the shooting he had been moved from critical care to a surgical unit. He could stand and joke with his family, though he was still in a lot of pain.

On March 5, 2009, Dewey was taken to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo. for rehabilitation. The hospital specializes in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. About a month later he underwent surgery to stop a bleed in his brain.

In July 2009 he spent a few days on a ventilator when a medication failed to slow his heart and control his blood pressure.

Doctors aimed to let Dewey return to Minnesota in mid-January 2010. He finally made the trip in February.

In May, 200 motorcyclists, many of them in law enforcement themselves, hit the road to raise money for Dewey's care. The 10-88 motorcycle run raised $10 per bike for a trust fund. Organizers said they hope the "10-88," which is code for "officer needs assistance," becomes an annual event in Dewey's honor.

On July 17, Dewey was sent home from the hospital to spend his final days at home around family.

Fairbanks and Vernier were charged with several felonies. Only Fairbanks was charged with attempted murder. As part of a plea deal Vernier pleaded guilty to failing to render assistance to Dewey and was sentenced to two years in prison. He also agreed to testify against Fairbanks.

Donations to help Dewey's family with medical bills can be made at any Wells Fargo bank, or at:

Mahnomen State Bank and Trust

PO box 378

103 N. Main St. Mahnomen, MN 56557

About a week after the shooting, WCCO-TV's Don Shelby asked viewers to send him fishing tackle to give to Dewey once he got better. Shelby now says he will donate the approximately $2,000 worth of tackle he received to charity.

People can also buy T-shirts to help and visit Dewey's CaringBridge page to learn more about his story and leave condolences on his guestbook.

[Big A]

R. I. P.

[cbrooks]

rest in peace. Its bothers me that he had a year and a half battle. I thought he was eventually going to make a full recovery. What a sad ending