PHOENIX (AP) — Joshua Briese grew up in Montana and wanted to work in law enforcement, just like his father. He was not deterred even after his father died while in service at the age of 38 in 2006.
“I actually had to try to talk to him about it a few times, but his heart was tight,” the captain said. Kent O’Donnell of the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office in Billings, Montana, said azfamily.com. “He wanted to become a police officer and just wanted to make his father proud.”
Briese did just that, recently joining the Gila River Police Department, south of Phoenix, as a tribal police officer. He was still in field training and had been working at the ministry for less than a year when He died on Saturday while on dutyjust like his father.
“They’re probably patrolling together up there in heaven,” O’Donnell said, “and it makes us smile a little to know that they’re together again.”
The 23-year-old man was fatally shot before dawn Saturday while responding to a reported disturbance at a house party, according to the Gila River Indian Community.
Tribal council chiefs quickly adopted a temporary ban Saturday night at all the community house parties.
Police said several shots were fired, hitting Briese and another tribal police officer. The second officer was seriously injured but survived, police said.
Four other people were also injured, police said, including one who later died. The other victims were not immediately identified.
The FBI in Phoenix said two suspects in the shooting, a man and a boy, were in custody, but no further information was released.
O’Donnell said he spoke to Briese — known as “Joshie” to friends and family — just a few weeks ago.
“I’m sad that I won’t be able to see him grow up because he had a very bright future,” O’Donnell told the news station.
In a separate statement, the Yellow County Sheriff’s Office said Briese and his father, David, “left this world to serve their community and do what they loved.”
David Briese, a Yellowstone County deputy, was killed in November 2006 in a car crash while going to provide backup for an officer who was dealing with a combative disabled driver.