Former first responder creates tribute to fallen officers

OREGON – After an injury forced her to stop serving as a first responder, Karen Davis was looking for ways to honor other officers who have paid the ultimate price.

On New Year’s Eve, the fence outside Davis’ home at 1423 E. Flagg Road will be adorned with lights honoring the nation’s fallen law enforcement officers.

There will be a glow stick for each of the 200 plus officers lost in the line of duty.

“I was a firefighter and EMT, I did K9 search and rescue,” Davis said. “I figure it’s the best way to thank everybody. I can’t serve with them anymore. I figured I’d honor them.”

Davis trains search and rescue and detector dogs, and has worked with law enforcement K9 units as a civilian volunteer for 20 years. She still works with Lee County search and rescue on training after getting involved four years ago.

She also started with the Franklin Grove Fire Department in 2014 before a back injury forced her to take a sabbatical earlier this year. Her fire experience dates back to Tooele County in Utah in 2004.

“I injured my back in 2006 during firefighter certification,” Davis said. “I was in the department with Rust Valley in Utah. But I finished and have been trying to get it fixed ever since. In Utah I ran narcotics exposures and cadaver dogs. I became an instructor. I made it into something I could do with my back.”

Davis still worked for years with the nagging injury.

“If someone’s life was at stake, I’d still pick them up,” Davis said. “But I just can’t do it anymore.”

Davis has her own venture where she takes dogs from shelters and trains them to work as service dogs for the elderly. She then donates the trained dogs to those in need.

“I do behavior modification,” Davis said. “I take nasty dogs and turn them into nice ones. Older people can’t afford a $3,000 dog on social security.”

Davis plans to do the memorial display for years to come. Next year could be firefighters or EMTs lost in the line of duty. Later years could be branches of the military, or those lost to suicide after serving, she said.

The memorial will be drive-by in style due to COVID-19. People will come out in the afternoon on Dec. 31 to help with zip tying the glow sticks. Those that help will need to wear a mask and gloves.

She’ll be keeping an eye on the page that displays the lost officers in case it updates. It’s currently at 280, she said. She’ll be sitting by a fire and adding more if need be or replacing or shaking them up to glow again.

“If it was safer, I’d have a little more socialization,” Davis said. “There will be a few fire pits out there if someone wants to stop, they can have a moment.”