http://www.chieftain.com/wednesday/news/index/article/15
Wednesday October 17, 2001
CANON CITY - Fremont County Sheriff’s
Deputy Dean Richardson has struggled to stay in the law enforcement field
because of his battle with an unseen adversary - multiple sclerosis.
Richardson, 33, was diagnosed with
MS in May 1994, just two years into his career with the sheriff's department.
He had MS when he was shot Sept. 16, 1996, as he apprehended a jail escapee
in Florence, but a few days later won the American Service Award for Heroism.
Although Richardson is pretty certain
that the physical aspects of recovering from the shooting (he still carries
the bullet in his lung) did not aggravate the MS, sometimes excessive heat
and stress from the job can bring on the symptoms.
"The heat of wearing a bulletproof
vest on hot days and stress are adversaries that I manage better than the
doctors would expect. I can't worry about my problems - if I can just take
care of other people, then I'm happy," Richardson said.
Despite the MS, he was eager to join
the manhunt for fugitives who had slain a police officer in the Cortez/Four
Corners area a few years ago. It was there he met Middlemiss, then El Paso
County undersheriff, for the the first time.
"I ran all over the desert and my
MS was never an issue. I don't make it an issue," Richardson said.
Because of that, Richardson feels
comfortable continuing to do what he does.
"My weakest point came when the (former
sheriff’s) administration felt I could not do my job, that I would put
the department in some sort of a liability position. Although I never had
a problem with other officers feeling I could back them, I was considered
a liability."
But then, on May 1, Middlemiss became
Fremont County sheriff and that attitude changed.
"He said I could do community relations,
public relations and handle internal affairs work. Ivan takes you for what
you are and he does not do anything special for you," Richardson said.
Still, Richardson felt Middlemiss
could have "easily let me go with no violation of the Americans with Disabilities
Act." So, Richardson nominated Middlemiss for an award after reading a
call for employer of the year nominations in the National MS Society Connection
magazine.
As a result, Middlemiss will be recognized
as Employer of the Year Thursday by the Colorado Chapter of the National
Multiple Sclerosis during a meeting in Denver.
"It (award) was a total shock to
me. I'm honored, obviously, and I just really don't know what to say,"
Middlemiss said.
The sheriff said he simply looks
for and tires to hire "the best person for the position. I look at talents
and abilities, I don't look at limitations - I'm an optimist," Middlemiss
explained.
"I knew what Dean could do. MS was
not an issue - I needed someone with strong communication skills and someone
who was well known in the community," Middlemiss said, part of his goal
to establish a more open department.
But beyond professionalism, Middlemiss,
"is a caring human being who is truly concerned about the welfare of his
employees and their families," Richardson said.
For Richardson, that means a lot
because the first priority in his life is his family - wife, Vani and son,
Corey, 5, - and "my second life is my job."
©1996-2001 Chieftain.com
By TRACY HARMON
The Pueblo Chieftain