Sergeant Jerry Rasmussen: 15 years behind the badge

Sergeant Jerry Rasmussen of the Sheridan Police Department will retire after 15 years of distinguished service. 

According to the SPD, Rasmussen was sworn in on April 28, 2008.  He was promoted to the rank corporal on Jan. 23, 2014 and promoted to sergeant less than one year later on December 31, 2014.

As an SPD Sergeant, Rasmussen led a patrol team in Sheridan, which consisted of police officers and communication technicians.  According to SPD Captain Tom Ringley, sergeants make sure team accomplishments support department goals set by Sheridan’s Chief of Police.  

Rasmussen graduated from Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command and the Leading Police Organization course. Rasmussen also graduated from the FBI Hostage Negotiations Course.

Over his career, Rasmussen has served the SPD in many roles such as the department training coordinator, detective, a field training officer and as a hostage negotiator.

Although he wishes he could continue his service with the SPD, Rasmussen said he has other duties he must now undertake for his family. 

Rasmussen was awarded the department’s Lifesaving Medal for his actions taken on October 6, 2022, when he was the first to arrive at a roll-over crash site. Rasmussen discovered a scene every first responder dreads, a vehicle roll-over with a juvenile ejected from the vehicle, and obvious life-threatening injuries. Rasmussen immediately began an assessment of the unconscious female and determined that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was necessary. While performing CPR, Rasmussen directed other responding officers and emergency personnel to other victims of the crash.

According to the SPD, Rasmussen continued to administer CPR as firefighters and medical personnel arrived. Officers and other responders helped place the juvenile on a stretcher while Rasmussen continued CPR. Rasmussen did not stop CPR until the victim was being loaded into the ambulance. The SPD reports he administered CPR for over nine minutes, never giving up the fight for the young girl’s life.

As other first responders assessed the severity of the apparent injury to the young girl, many of them believed she would not survive the event. A myriad of actions were taken by responding personnel, beginning with the swift response of Rasmussen, which directly resulted in her survival.

Corporal Chase Philipp, Officer Zach Conlee, Officer Ben Hawkins, Officer Alex Murray, Communication Technician Kellen Phillips and Communication Technician Cheryl Strauch were also presented a Meritorious Service award for their excellent performance during the incident.

Rasmussen will retire from the Sheridan Police Department on April 28. While he admits he will miss the pace and work as an officer, Rasmussen said it is the memories and relationships he has made over the last 15 years that he will always carry with him.