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Joe Wray: Remembering Jim Schaffer

Joe Wray
Chief of Police, Dillon

On August 28, the Dillon Police Department lost a good and decent man when Officer Jim Schaffer was killed in a tragic motorcycle crash. Although we deal with death and violence on a routine basis, we never expect it with one of our own. When Jim died, it was one of those shock moments that makes you numb, but you still need to handle a variety of issues and details to help the family and loved ones, and get through the funeral process. We could not have done this alone, and we were truly impressed how the entire community came forward with an outpouring of sympathy and support. The number of individuals and organizations that also came forward with personal stories and events where Jim had helped others also eased the pain from his death.

One of Jim’s great passions was visiting with families and talking with kids. He distributed hundreds of Junior Police Badges to help break the barrier that sometimes exist between law enforcement and the community. Through a fund that was established in his name, “Jim’s Junior Badge Fund,” we recently purchased an additional 2,500 Junior Police Badges for the officers to hand out to kids.

This was an event that was also a reminder of what a great community we have here and how everyone is there to help get through difficult times. My first sentence stated that the Dillon Police Department had lost a good and decent man; I stand corrected, the Summit County community lost a good and decent man. He is remembered with great joy.


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