Winnebago County Fallen Deputy laid to rest....

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Fallen deputy 'a part of family'

Winnebago officer remembered for dedication to career, friends

By Steve Wideman
Post-Crescent staff writer

CLARKS MILLS — Clutching a copy of the children’s book "When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Police Officer," 1-year-old Max Meyer happily approached Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Chaplain Dave Eisley.

The image of the smiling toddler remains etched in Eisley's mind as he recalls perhaps his toughest task as chaplain, telling Tanya Meyer her husband, Max's father Richard, was dead following an accident with his squad car near Neenah.

"Rick was a perfect blend of compassion and strength we don’t see in very many police officers or in many people," Eisley said in a eulogy during the funeral Monday for the three-year sheriff’s department deputy.

Meyer, 27, died Thursday when his squad crashed into a front-end loader in a construction zone at Breezewood Lane near Pendleton Road shortly before 5 a.m.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the state joined scores of Meyer's friends and family in honoring the officer at St. Mary Catholic Church in Clarks Mills. The cream-colored brick church was the same rural Manitowoc County church in which Rick married Tanya three years ago before the couple moved to Menasha.

The birth of his son, Max, was a profound moment in Meyer's life, said Bridget Derge, who grew up in nearby Valders with Rick and Tanya Meyer.

Derge said Meyer was devoted to his son. "Everyone knew how much love that baby would receive," she said.

"Rick loved to share good times with friends, and maybe a few beers,” she said. “He enjoyed everyday to the fullest whether at home with Max or out there protecting all of us in his job."

More than 150 squad cars with emergency lights flashing lined both sides of Manitowoc County J where friends, family members and fellow officers walked the half-mile route to the church cemetery behind a hearse flanked by an honor guard of deputies.

Thursday, the day Meyer died, was to be the first of three days off for him to vacation and prepare for deer hunting, said friend and co-worker deputy Joe Kroncke.

Kroncke said he and Meyer were members of a fraternity within the brotherhood of police officers — third-shifters who worked the overnight hours.

"You are not assigned to work the third shift, you have to be accepted," Kroncke said.

He said Meyer’s easygoing, friendly attitude during his first shift earned Meyer the nickname "Dick," a moniker signaling his welcome among the third-shifters.

"Dick was not only a family man and loving father, he was also a part of the family of the sheriff's department and a teacher," Kroncke said.

He said Meyer recently helped other officers understand the use of new computers installed in squad cars.

"He had the perseverance and tenacity to force us to use the system," Kroncke said.

He said he served on the department's SWAT team with Meyer. Kroncke recalled a recent incident in which he acknowledged fearing for his own safety until hearing reassuring words from Meyer.

"Dick said, 'Don’t worry. I got you covered,'" Kroncke said. "Dick always provided a voice of reason, calm and coolness in situations."

Winnebago squad cars now carry a small gold star sticker with the logo "W29," indicative of Meyer’s call sign of "Winnebago 29."

"We can all be assured the streets of heaven are going to be a little safer because Winnebago 29 is patrolling," Kroncke said.

Steve Wideman can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 302, or by e-mail at swideman@ postcrescent.com