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It’s been stated the more often that a person who has passed is talked about, in a good natured way, the stronger the positive memories become of him or her.

There is a  memorial association that supports peacekeepers and their loved ones left behind,  that  has created “Officer Down Podcasts,”for this very purpose.   As sort of mini ‘true crime’ style productions, these have been posted to memorialize individuals killed in the line of duty.  Minnesota stories you can listen to on-line include stories of officers who served in Red Wing, Faribault, Lake City, Winona, Grand Meadow, Hayfield and other Minnesota agencies. 

As of last week, the telling of a  shooting in Chisago County that took the life of State Patrol Corporal Timothy Bowe was added  to the website file.

MN Law Enforcement Memorial Association Board member and podcast producer Sheriff Scott Rose  said last week, the tribute for MN State Patrol Trooper Bowe’s life was a priority segment of the podcast collection.  

Found on-line under the title Officer Down Memorial Podcasts —  Minnesota law enforcement losses are  told through actual voices of family members, colleagues and the use of sound suitable for setting the scene.

State Patrol Corporal Bowe died in a shootout in Chisago County June 6,  1997. 

For a long time after—local agency officers and first responders would speak of something as happening before Tim Bowe and after Bowe.  His death was a milestone that didn’t need to be explained.  

In the podcast, his widow speaks  of him as a great dad, and shares the tragedy of having a toddler daughter die.  Corporal Bowe also was someone who didn’t think twice about responding to a call for mutual assistance.  His widow affectionately tells how he entered patrol training the day after they married.

The podcast is about one hour in length, and includes many of the voices from those on duty that night in 1997. 

The incident started with a report of a reckless male subject, hallucinating after consuming mushrooms and high from smoking a few joints, and who had suddenly critically injured a friend of his discharging his weapon as he and buddies were visiting a rural address at Horseshoe Lake.  

Don’t listen to the podcast for an explanation.  

Nothing sheds light  on why the subject brought guns to what was supposed to be laid back weekend fishing and hanging out.  No reason is given for why he was randomly discharging firearms.

The subject died in a chaotic exchange of bullets.

The voice of Bruce Peterson, a former Chisago City Fire Chief and who also worked in local law enforcement;  does provide some clarity.  He recalls a good chunk of the incident and the workings of law enforcement in 1997.  Things were very different then. Dispatch got the shooter report and medical responder request about 11:45 p.m.   Deputies and available city officers responded to transport an injured party with a gunshot wound,  and to halt the man who was haphazardly discharging guns.  

Corporal Bowe left his highway patrol beat to help.

The podcast script describes how the heavily wooded lot outside of Harris was nearly impossible to navigate. No tekkie GPS aerial topography or Google images were around then.  

This was also a time period when even basic radio communications were hit or miss.  No Special Weapons and Tactical unit with its reinforced vehicle, that we rely on now,  had been put together.

If you work in law enforcement you can appreciate the  bravery, the challenges and tension within re-telling the story of this 1997 call.  But more importantly the podcast gets across how truly unique those who wear the badge are.  If you are moved to make an electronic  donation to the association, that would be welcomed of course, but the podcasts are meant to ensure the tale is told and the names don’t disappear. 

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