Joshua Briese grew up in Montana and always wanted to be a police officer, just like his dad. Even after his father died on the job at age 38 in 2006, he didn’t give up.
An officer from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office in Billings, Montana said, “I had to try and talk him out of it a few times, but he was set on it.” His only goal was to make his dad happy by becoming a police officer.
Briese did just that. He recently became a tribal police officer and joined the Gila River Police Department south of Phoenix. Like his dad, he died on the job on Saturday while still in field training. He had been with the police department for less than a year.
O’Donnell said, “They’re probably taking turns driving around heaven together, and it makes us smile a little to think that they’re together again.”
The 23-year-old man was shot and killed early Saturday morning while reacting to a report of a disturbance at a house party, according to the Gila River Indian Community.
The tribal council quickly put a temporary stop to all house parties in the town on Saturday night.
Police said more than one gunshot hit Briese and another tribal police officer. Police say the second officer was badly hurt but lived.
According to the cops, four other people were hurt, and one of them later died. The other victims weren’t named right away.
The FBI in Phoenix said that a guy and a boy were being held as suspects in the shooting, but they haven’t said anything else.
A deputy from Yellowstone County named David Briese was killed in a car accident in November 2006. He was on his way to help a cop deal with a drunk driver who was being violent.
