Pottawattamie County Jeff Danker is still trying to process the brutal murder of Deputy Mark Burbridge by an inmate at the county jail on May 1st. Counselors have begun the process of trying to help his staff cope with the tragedy.
In the wake of that awful day, Danker is comforted by the support of the community, local businesses and government agencies and law enforcement departments from around the country who came to the funeral on Monday.
There has been no shortage of food brought to the sheriff's department by grateful citizens. "Last week I rarely got out of my office with everything we were doing," Danker tells NewsRadio 1110 KFAB. "It just made it so much nicer to be able to get something to eat and just keep on working."
Danker was also touched by the number of people who stopped by the memorial and placed flowers, balloons and cards on Deputy Burbridge's cruiser.
He has sifted through stacks of cards and letters from people around the country. But one in particular really caught his attention. "I received a sympathy card from some of the prisoners up in our jail who were expressing their condolences for this," Danker says.
On Wednesday night Danker got to experience the kind of generosity he has seen for his department on a more personal level. "Last night I went out with my daughter and my wife. We stopped at a restaurant and the gentleman came up and said your bill has been paid for." He quickly learned that a second person had also offered to pay for the meals.
And then there was the funeral Monday morning. As the procession left the Mid-America Center, it was led by motor units from the metro area and being followed by hundreds of patrol cars from several agencies that fell into line. "We were immediately met with men, women and children lining the sides of the road. Signs bearing words of support and thanking Deputy Burbridge for his service were everywhere," Danker says.
There were flags being waved and many businesses and their employees lined the procession route. Traffic control for the procession was handled by many different agencies, both law enforcement, Council Bluffs Public Works and County Engineers.
Danker says he is sincerely grateful and thankful to everyone that has visited the memorial, stopped by the visitations, brought food to the office and assisted in the planning of the funeral, giving Deputy Burbridge the services and respect he deserves.