Wisconsin: Protecting our protectors
Three words echo in Waukesha County deputy sheriff Michael Doud's head - "you've been hit."
In 1998, Doud was called to a two-car accident on I-94. One vehicle was on the shoulder of the interstate and the other was on the median strip of the highway. Doud responded to the vehicle in the median while his partner attended to the vehicle located on the shoulder of the highway. While standing in the median, Doud began questioning the driver of the vehicle. The next thing he remembers is lying on his back. He had been struck by a passing vehicle as his partner watched.
"Mike, ambulance is on the way," his partner told him.
Doud underwent five surgeries, 39 months of rehabilitation, was wheelchair-bound for a couple of months and eventually returned to full duty.
Shortly after the incident, Doud met with former Gov. Jim Doyle regarding the passage of Wisconsin's Move Over Law.
"The Move Over Law is a great thing but nobody bothers paying attention to it," Doud said.
The law requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to provide a safety zone for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of the road with its warning lights flashing. Unfortunately, most drivers do not observe the law.
"The worst time in my life (was) when I wasn't able to drive," Doud said about being wheelchair-bound. "A person loses all their independence - you lose everything."
After experiencing these limitations, Doud wanted to help his fellow brothers and sisters in blue.
He continued that work recently while paying a visit to his favorite vacation spot: Minocqua. He took time out from relaxing to visit the Minocqua Police Department and spread the word about his non-profit organization.
WILEORC (Wisconsin Injured Law Enforcement Officers Resource Council) was formed in June 2014 by four law enforcement officers, three of whom were injured while on duty. The mission of the organization is to assist in the support of injured law enforcement officers throughout the state of Wisconsin through referrals for medical, financial, legal and counseling services and fundraising through charitable donations to assist with the officer's expenses. The organization assigns a caseworker for those in need of services.
Funds for food, house payments, gas and necessities are distributed according to needs.
"On an average, we have $1,500 per officer to provide for their needs," Doud explained. "This is somebody who put his life on the line for us, we need to take care of him."
"In Wisconsin, if you are killed in the line of duty, your spouse and dependents get a full five-year ride to the UW system," Doud said. "The state of Wisconsin also gives a $250,000 death benefit and the federal government gives approximately a $500,000 death benefit. That's aside from any insurance. But when you are a duty disabled officer, you get nothing. When an officer is hurt, they are put on worker's compensation, which cuts your paycheck by one-third. Cut your salary by one-third and see how you can survive."
"This profession is a dangerous profession to begin with. In today's day and age, it's almost as if law enforcement has a target on their back," said Minocqua Chief of Police Dave Jaeger.
"Got your 6" is a common saying in law enforcement and the military. A term that originates from World War I fighter pilots, referring to the rear as the six o'clock position, "got your 6" means "I've got your back."
"This is something law enforcement takes very seriously," Jaeger said.
"There's definitely a brotherhood, we realize we have to keep each other safe," Doud added. "Law enforcement is a family."
Traffic stops and domestic disputes are the most dangerous calls for law enforcement.
Officers may be kicked, punched or even bit. Violence toward officers is not decreasing - our protectors wearing blue are subjected to an increasing level of injuries while on the job.
"The Move Over Law is an added measure that people must take to keep the men and women in blue safe while they are doing their job," Jaeger said, "If you are in a four-lane highway, move over to the center lane and slow your speed down. If you are in a two-lane highway, slow down and move over as close to the centerline as possible. If you do not have any room to move over, slow down."
"You never know what may happen on a traffic stop - an officer might have to jump back from the vehicle," Jaeger added. By moving over on the road, the officer has the space for movement which will keep them safe.
"Traffic stops can be very dangerous for officers," Jaeger explained. "Keep our safety in mind and have the heightened sense of awareness of what's going on around you. Slow down, move over and keep us safe. We are just out there doing our job."
"Slow down, tap your breaks and let everyone else know that there's something up ahead," Doud added.
Doud retired as an active duty officer in 2013 and since that time has devoted his time to WILEORC. He lives with his wife, Heather, in Genesee and they are frequent visitors to Minocqua.
For more information about benefits for officers, visit wppa.com.
For statistics on officers killed or assaulted, visit www.fbi.gov.
For more information on the Move Over Law and iWILEORC, visit
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