Friday Dec. 12, 2008 a bomb was detonated inside of a bank in Woodburn Oregon, just south of Portland. The incident which began with a call and warning, led to locating a small device which in turn was found to be non threatening. Later in the day an employee of a second bank found a box located inside of bushes just outside the bank.
The call to 9-11 brought in several agencies including local, state and federal. The device having been moved inside of the bank detonated killing two officers and injuring a third.
On Sunday Dec. 14, 2008 photos of a “person of interest” were released through the media, shortly after a suspect was arrested.
We have all lost friends, family members and officers in our departments to “in the line of duty deaths.” At these times the stress of the job begins to grow, it will often leave us with a feeling of “us vs them” with the local community.
However, times such as these are when the community joins law enforcement to bring in a suspect is a time that will energize our faith in that we are not alone. It is a time when we realize that the people we protect truly have appreciation for what we do, the toll it takes on us and our families. Given the opportunity they will support us in a way that will amaze.
Woodburn is a small community, at this time there have been two prayer vigils, and a large outpouring of support and sympathy. Through these people God is wrapping his loving arms around the families, friends and departments of the lost officers.
As we approach Christmas, please keep the officers, families, friends and departmental staff in your prayers…
Lost…
Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Willaim “Bill” Hakim
Woodburn Police Captain Tom Tennant.
Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell was critically injured.