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Bicycle patrol officer killed by car in S.L.

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Michael John Dunman, age 30, passed away Monday, July 17, 2000 in Salt Lake City, UT from injuries sustained in a bicycle/automobile accident while on duty for the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Born October 30, 1969 in Rockledge, Florida, the son of Marshall W. Dunman and Shelley Rivera. Married Sandra Criddle October 8, 1993 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Michael was an active member of the LDS Church and served a mission to Guayaquil, Equador. He loved sports, golf, and physical fitness. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survived by his wife, Sandra; three daughters, Courtney, Kaitlyn and Karissa, all of Tooele; parents, Marshall Dunman, Yulee, Florida and Shelley Dunman, Salt Lake City, UT; brother, Will Dunman, Payson, AZ.
Michael J. Dunman, 30, Tooele, was killed on July 17, 2000 when a vehicle jumped a curb and ran into Salt Lake City Officer Dunman, while patrolling on his bicycle on State Street in Salt Lake City.
Acting Police Chief Arthur "Mac" Connole choked with tears as he announced one of his officers died.
"Despite heroic efforts by Salt Lake firefighters, paramedics and the hospital staff here at LDS (Hospital), the officer was pronounced dead at 4:30 (p.m.)," Connole said.
Police later arrested a man for investigation of negligent homicide/manslaughter, speeding, failing to appear in court and an immigration detainer, jail records indicate.
Salt Lake Police Capt. Scott Atkinson said Dunman, a five-year veteran who worked bike patrol for about a year, probably never saw the southbound car coming as it swerved right onto the sidewalk, striking his bike from behind. A witness, who was driving south behind the accident, said it appeared the car blew a front right tire and lost control.
The brown sedan crossed at least one lane of traffic before going onto the sidewalk, leaving a downed street light, the bike and other wreckage in its wake. One of the bike's tires dislodged and came to rest against some shrubbery about 50 feet south of the crumpled frame.
Despite wearing his helmet, Officer Dunman suffered massive head trauma and was transported by ambulance and a police escort to LDS Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Atkinson said.
A second bicycle officer, Nathan Swensen, who was racing to the scene when he heard of Dunman's accident over the radio, suffered a broken wrist and road rash after narrowly avoiding a crash with a vehicle that backed out in front of him, Atkinson said.
While Atkinson said the incident will remain on every officer's mind for some time, it probably won't alter safety protocol or affect daily operations because training or police procedure didn't seem to play a part in the incident.

Family, fellow officers and friends bid farewell
By Derek Jensen
Deseret News staff writer Officer Tony Russell stood alone under the hot afternoon sun, staring at the casket a few yards away.
      His intense gaze was interrupted occasionally by hugs, handshakes and sympathetic pats on the back from fellow officers. Alone again, his focus returned to the casket holding his partner, Michael J. Dunman.
      Dunman died after he was hit by a car while riding his bike on a State Street sidewalk Monday afternoon.
      The 30-year-old Salt Lake bicycle patrol officer had just been laid to rest in the Bountiful City Cemetery, and Russell didn't seem to want to leave.
      "I don't know how you say good-bye," Russell said as he stared ahead, his eyes covered by sunglasses. "It's a tough job."
      Russell's partner for the past three months, Dunman had played in a golf tournament Monday morning and came into work late that afternoon. He was on his way to meet Russell and another bike officer when he was hit by a car. Russell heard the radio transmission describing the accident and was at the scene within 10 minutes.
      "I just wished it wasn't him," Russell said. "I didn't want it to happen to anybody -- we were good friends."
      Russell described Dunman as "a great partner, treated people well, honest."
      "He always talked of his kids," Russell added.
      Those were some of the same sentiments echoed by family, fellow officers and friends at Dunman's funeral Friday morning in a packed White Pines LDS Chapel in Tooele.
      Dunman's characteristics read like the Boy Scout Law: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent.
      "Even though Mike made a lot of arrests, he never had a complaint filed against him," said Sgt. Jade Hurst, Dunman's supervisor on the patrol squad for the past year. "I think there is one word that sums him up best -- integrity."
      "He treated everybody with respect," said officer Brendon Kirkwood, a fellow bicycle officer. "Regardless if they were a fellow officer, a suspect or a victim -- it didn't matter."
      Dunman's brother, Will Dunman, described his brother as a "tremendous athlete" who "loved to learn."
      "I have been associated with a lot of great people through my life, but none has met the greatness of my brother," Will Dunman said.
      A deeply religious man, Dunman asked to be switched from narcotics to the bicycle patrol one year ago so he could spend more time with his wife, Sandi, and three daughters, Courtney, 6; Kaitlyn, 3; and Karissa, 1.
      Courtney and Kaitlyn walked alongside their mother as she carried Karissa behind Dunman's casket, carried by eight fellow bicycle officers. Lines of uniformed police, six deep on one side, seven deep on the other, lined the long walkway from the Tooele chapel to the white hearse into which police lifted Dunman's casket.
      Police closed down parts of I-80 and I-15 as hundreds of police cars and motorcycles inched toward Bountiful, followed by family and friends.
      After a 21-gun salute at the cemetery, acting Salt Lake Police Chief Arthur "Mac" Connole presented Dunman's wife with a flag and small wooden box with three polished, 0.308 caliber rifle shells to commemorate the 21-gun salute.
      After the graveside service, Connole said the four days since Dunman's death have been "terrible."
      "The police department deals with death daily, but as tough as we think we are, when it's within our police family, no matter how strong we think we are, we really have a hard time with it."
      The close-knit group of officers in Dunman's squad are like family, Connole said. With Dunman gone, Hurst said, those officers will now do their part to help Dunman's wife.
      "We've committed to her as a squad to take care of her yard, her house," Hurst said. "Everything she needs, we're at her beck and call."
      As Sandi Dunman and the remaining crowd at the cemetery gradually dispersed, Russell remained, still watching the casket. His forehead glistened slightly with sweat from the summer heat.
      "Mike would probably just want us to get back out on our bikes and go to work," Russell said. "That's what Michael would do."

VIEWPOINT
IN MEMORIUM
by Salt Lake City Chief of Police Arthur "Mac" Connole

Life is so very precious, and sometimes, all too short. And life can be taken from us, and from among us, with little or no warning. Such a tragedy has struck our Police Department family. On Monday, July 17th, Officer Michael John Dunman was taken from his young family, and from us. In a very brief moment, one that cannot be revisited nor altered, we were all reminded just how fragile and sacred life is, and how it should be dearly guarded.
Michael John Dunman was born on October 30th, 1969, in Rockledge, Florida. He graduated from Fernandina Beach High School, in Fernandina Beach, Florida, in 1987. His family moved to the Salt Lake City area shortly thereafter.
Mike played some Junior College baseball before leaving Florida, and he was an avid and exceptional golfer.
Then Elder Dunman honorably served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1988-1990, in the Ecuador, Guayaquil Mission. Upon his return from South America, through a future brother-in-law, Mike met his bride, Sandra Criddle, and on October 8th, 1993, they were married.
Mike and Sandra moved their family to Tooele some three years ago - they have three young daughters; Courtney, now five, Kaitlyn, three, and Karissa, almost two years old.
Officer Dunman became a Salt Lake City Police Officer on February 23rd, 1995. Mike has served in the Pioneer Patrol Division, Special Investigations-Narcotics, Liberty Patrol, the Liberty C.O.P. Squad, and was serving in the Liberty Patrol Bicycle Squad at the time of his passing. Already, Mike's personnel file shows numerous letters and citations for his exemplary work as a peace officer. His merit ratings have been exceptional. Mike, always thinking of others first, had donated personal leave time to the Leave Bank to help his fellow officers. The very day of the tragedy, Mike has participated in the Honorary Colonels Golf Tournament but elected to come into work a little late anyway. His love and loyalty to his police service was readily apparent.
Officer Dunman has honored all of us with his personal sacrifice. He has reminded us our work is never done, that our police challenges are very difficult and demanding. We express our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude and sympathy to his bride Sandra, and their three young girls. We can now honor and remember Mike best by continuing in his example of professionalism and dedication at the very highest levels of police service. A great but gentle soul has passed, but we can remember all that he taught and shared with us as we continue towards a better world!
----
On Tuesday afternoon, July 18th, one of three Traumatic Incident debriefings took place. The gathering ran about two hours, and was open to any officers or staff who desired to attend. More than forty officers participated.
The Utah Highway Patrol presented a brief summary of the initial investigation, with many points yet to be determined. It is believed Mike was struck from behind, and that he never heard the car approaching nor was aware.
The debriefing was then opened to anyone who wished to express comments, and many did. It was reported Mike routinely earned the highest stats of any officer on his squad. His supervisor was never worried about what Mike was doing, or that his time was being safely and productively utilized. His church mission gained Spanish was a great field tool for Mike on many occasions.
When the auto-bike accident was first dispatched and officers were assigned, it was yet unknown to be officer-involved. Those who first arrived, despite their shock and horror, went about crowd control, gathering witnesses, and assisting the Fire Department as appropriate. Many were complimented for their extreme professionalism at the accident scene, all wanting to help Mike.
Another sergeant for whom Mike had worked shared he and Mike once discussed Mike becoming a golf pro, but Mike decided against pursuing that option because he knew that would require he always work on Sundays. Working every Sunday would require too much time away from his wife and daughters, and Mike wasn't willing to pay that price. Rather, Mike become a police officer, and was "doing what he wanted to do."
An officer with whom Mike was a fellow S.W.A.T. school student shared a story from their training, when they were tackling the obstacle course. Mike took his personal fitness very seriously, and had become a faithful in the weight room. Mike physically picked up his S.W.A.T. school classmate and helped him through some points in the obstacle course so both would finish together.
Several related their firsthand experiences with Ron Heaps, who died in the line of duty in 1982, and Percy Clark, in 1973, and how those situations were so similar to Mike's. In all three situations the odds of intentionally recreating the exact same scenarios and results was felt to be near impossible, and yet they still occurred. These were not training shortfalls. Police work is inherently dangerous, and that will never change, but the good feelings we learn, earn and hold for each other, "those will never go away." Mike is truly one "one of the good guys."
Mike served a brief period in narcotics, where here too his performance was exceptional. Even in this difficult assignment, Mike always demonstrated a "great sense of humor," and was readily willing to admit and learn from his mistakes. One detective reported that Mike, "could cover my six anytime!" Mike elected to leave narcotics, despite the sergeant's pleadings that he stay, because Mike "needed more time with his kids."
Mike "never had a bad word to say about anybody, never," he "had an infectious smile," he "loved his kids," and shared many stories about his daughters with his fellow officers. Those in attendance were reminded this life is a temporary existence, and how one treats people will stay with them, and us always, and that Mike "always did it right!" All the pointless and tragic "what ifs" can never be second-guessed. The very day before the accident, Mike had lunch with his mother, to whom he reported, "I'm very happy!"
One very young Salt Lake City Officer by his own introduction, and only weeks out of F.T.O. status, came in a little bit late. He reported he did not know Officer Dunman, but that he came to the debriefing to "meet Mike." He was so glad he did, and had verified for him their "shared love for the job." Throughout the entire debriefing session, the tissue and tears were in abundance, and it was an honor to be in attendance.
As the shock and realty of Mike's passing sets in, numerous offers of assistance continue to pour in, from other police agencies, and many other sources as well. A trust fund has been established at the Utah Law Enforcement Credit Union for the Dunman family. The Utah Highway Patrol was again thanked for their on-going and detailed investigation.
----
On Friday, July 21st, Officer Michael Dunman's funeral services were held in his resident ward chapel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Tooele, Utah. Literally hundreds of uniformed police officers from dozens of police agencies attended, to include 73 Motorcycle officers from eight different agencies. Chief Mac Connole and the entire Police Department Command Group sat on the stand, along with Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.
Sergeant Jed Hurst and Lieutenant John Hodson, supervisors who had worked with, and come to know and appreciate Mike as an officer and a personal friend, both spoke. In addition to Mike's police family in attendance, there were many others, all who expressed their love and condolences to the Dunman family.
At the conclusion of the services the official police motorcade escort prepared for the procession to the Bountiful City Cemetery. Once underway the motorcade stretched some 6-7 miles, winding its way through many cities, and other vehicles, all who stopped along the many roadways, extending their respects. One could see many citizens standing along the road, in either a salute, or with their hands across their chest and hearts, to say good-bye and thank you. The Utah Highway Patrol, with many troopers who were not actually participating in the motorcade held traffic, as did many other agencies enroute to Bountiful.
At the cemetery honors were again rendered. Officers from Mike's Bike Squad served as pallbearers. Taps were played on bagpipes and a twenty-one gun salute was fired by a Salt Lake City Police Department Honor Guard. City Motor Officers then folded the flag and it was then presented to Mrs. Dunman by Chief Connole. Many officers then took one more opportunity to bid their friend Mike good-bye.
An officer's passing in the line of duty is, fortunately, a rarity in Salt Lake City, and still again it's far too often. The Police Department has received numerous Internet e-mail and National Law Enforcement Telecommunications (NLETS) messages from all over the country, each expressing their sympathies. This whole numbing experience demands we all stop and closely reevaluate our own lives, our families, and our chosen profession. To best honor Officer Mike Dunman we should continue to provide the very best police services possible, to provide that steady hand in the night, a place of comfort and security, of equity and fairness, of professionalism towards all our citizens. Mike would want it that way, and so do we.

September 2007
I just wanted to mention what a great mother Mike had. I worked with her at the Family History Library for five years including the awful time when Mike was killed. His loss has changed her life. He was so dear to her.
I wish that there could have been more mention of her influence in the summary of all the services and honors paid to Mike. Sandi and the children are mentioned several times, but Shelley is mentioned only by name. When a mother loses a child, no matter how grown up he may have been, she loses a part of herself. Before Mike became a police officer, he was Shelley's little boy, he was coached by his mother in sports, in religion and in life. Her imprint on him was obvious. Her pride in him and the life he was living, was obvious. There are a thousand and one heart-warming and hilarious stories about Mike's life as a child and young man. Shelley was a wonderful and strong mother who dedicated herself, as a single mother, to seeing that her boys grew up to be responsible, faithful, well-educated men, and in the process they had some terrific struggles, and lots of happy times. The love between Mike and his brother, Will, is a powerful thing that means so much to Shelley. We all met Mike at least once when he came to the office in his "undercover" days. He looked the tough guy part, but the soft heart glowed forth as soon as he and Shelley caught sight of each other and started to visit.
Thank you for archiving the story of Mike's death and the services and memorials that were given for him. I participated in most of them and they were something that I had never seen the likes of before or since. Powerful, beautiful, touching, awe-inspiring.
Thank you again.
Anita A. Davis

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