•Law enforcement from all over the state–even from other states, show up for memorial service for Deputy Josh Owen

By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood became the destination for thousands of area law enforcement officers, first responders, area residents and the media on Saturday as more than 4,500 assembled outside the Memorial Service of Pope County Deputy Josh Owen who was fatally shot in the line of duty on April 15.

One week after Owen was killed in the line of duty, family, friends, fellow law enforcement and the Pope County community converged on Minnewaska Area High School for the service to remember the officer, the colleague and the family man.

It took more than 30 minutes Saturday morning to seat all law enforcement officers in the filled-to-capacity Minnewaska Area School gymnasium.  Besides every seat filled in the gymnasium, the school auditorium was full as was the smaller, auxiliary gym at the school. More than 2,000 law enforcement officers from all over the state, and from other state, attended the service 

The funeral service, officiated by Pastor Bryan Taffe of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Lowry, included eulogies by Lt. Col. John Anderson of the Minnesota National Guard; Pope County Assistant Deputy Nathan Brecht; and Josh Palmateer, a family relative.

‘Always pick Josh’

Lt. Col. John Anderson, 2nd Battalion 136th Infantry, Minnesota National Guard, talked about his service with the fallen officer, stating that he and Josh served together in a 22-month deployment, 16 months in Iraq.

He said “a hero is defined as and individual who is admired or idolized for courage, outstanding achievements of noble qualities…”

“I can’t think of a better description to describe Josh Owen,” he added.

“Getting Josh into my platoon  was not fate,” he said.  Before deployment the platoon’s non-commissioned officers got together to draft teams. “My platoon sergeant at the time had a high draft pick and he picked Josh.  “Later he told me, always pick Josh.”

Anderson said he learned quickly to “always pick Josh”  during many situations during their deployment in Iraq. 

“In war there are two protectors,” he said.  “The guy next to you and God.  I would have given my life for Josh and I know he would have given his for me. On April 15, Josh gave his life for all of us.”  

Anderson said “God probably took the same advice I took from the platoon sergeant and picked Josh.”  

Picking Josh so soon was  because “God needed a hero,” he concluded.

‘This building can’t even 

hold the love for Josh’

Pope County Deputy  Nathan Brechtlooked out at all those at the service and said, “Wow, it’s a blessing that this building can’t even hold all the love we have for Josh.”

He said Josh-O, as he was called by his colleagues, changed him forever.  “I know law enforcement, EMS and firemen everywhere are struggling today.”

“Today serves as a stark reminder of the danger that exists in all our communities, but said the answer was not to give in to that darkness…, but to keep the light on.”  

He said that Josh preferred to work the night shifts, and he made Pope County a much safer place for it. He described him as “strong” and a leader.

“I know Josh has changed our community forever.  In the past week I watched  as people in this community and all across the state have reached out sharing in our grief and offering  to help in anyway they could…”

“We want you to know that every act of kindness helps sustain us,” Brecht said.  Please wherever you are reach out to those who serve in this way. Take care of your people and tell them that you love them.”   

He said at times throughout the week he has “felt completely overwhelmed” by sadness and grief and “I know many have felt the same,” but encouraged all to “keep looking for the good.

“To the community, we sincerely thank you for the way you supported us as we grieve the loss of such a great man.”  He said the community “fed us, donated money, has given time and talent, placed signs and flags in yards and wrote loving messages, hugged us and cried with us.”  

“These things set my heart as ease and reminds me that law enforcement is still a noble profession.  I am grateful for a community that believes in us.  We ask you put your trust in us and show your support by shining a light in the darkness.  We humbly ask you to shine  a blue light in the darkness and in exchange we promise to do our best to serve and protect you…willing to sacrifice our very lives for the principles we believe in.  That’s what Deputy Josh Owen did.  He sacrificed his life in a noble profession for the principles he believed in. “

“To my fellow officers, whenever you see a blue light in the darkness think of Josh…as your nightshift partner. ” 

More than 2,000 law 

enforcement officers attend

Starting on Friday, law enforcement officers from all over the state and from Wisconsin, Michigan and other states, began arriving in Glenwood with more coming in on Saturday morning. 

Owen’s squad car stood in front of the high school on Friday and Saturday, surrounded by flowers and photos. Owen, who served as a Pope County deputy for 12 years,  left behind a wife, Shannon,  and 10-year-old son, Rylan. He worked with a K-9 officer named Karma. He was also a veteran who served time with the Minnesota National Guard.

Sheriff says he’s proud of 

Pope County Sheriff’s Office

In a statement issued last Friday before the visitation, Pope County Sheriff Tim Riley said he was grateful for his law enforcement family who stepped up to fill shifts to allow his team to process the loss. He said Deputy Owen’s death is the first line-of-duty death in his department.

“Our staff also has had the opportunity to spend some time at Josh’s desk. Time to reflect. We are doing all we can to support our law enforcement family. The outpouring of support from around the country has been amazing,” Riley said.  

“I’m so proud of our office. The way everyone is supporting each other will help us get through this,” Riley added.

The public was invited to the service on Saturday, but were asked to park at the FAST Global parking lot just off of Highway 55 in Glenwood and were transported to the Minnewaska Area Schools campus. Parking at the school was dominated by area and state-wide law enforcement officers as well as area fire departments and emergency response personnel.

A caisson procession for Josh Owen entered the school campus about 9 a.m. and included one Pope County Sheriff’s Office squad and two Minnesota State Patrol squads.

The service was expected to attract more than 2,500, it was reported on Friday, but nearly double that number showed up.  Not all were able to get into the school for the service.  Before the service, the public was invited to a visitation on Friday from 4-8 p.m. A second visitation ran from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday before the funeral service began at 10:30 a.m.

Following the funeral service, a local law enforcement procession escorted Deputy Owen and his family from Minnewaska High School to a private ceremony at the cemetery. A second procession of hundreds of law enforcement and first responder partner agencies followed the same route through Glenwood on Minnesota Avenue to Franklin Street with hundreds of people lining the streets with flags and signs supporting local law enforcement. 

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!