Minot Police Officer: Now It's Our Turn To SERVE And PROTECT

Some people have said, "Extra sad, especially around the holidays..."

Well, obviously we all know that any day of the year someone losing their life is hard, for all those that knew him or her. As I said just a couple of days ago, the city of Minot is mourning the loss of one of its finest - an officer of the law - since 2017 Patrick Blanchard's job was to Serve And Protect. The gripping sad news from the Minot Police Department was released last Thursday:

"On 12.28.22 around 10:45 PM, our department requested the assistance of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office in locating one of our off-duty officers for a welfare check.

Around 11:30 PM, McHenry County deputies located 37 yr old Master Officer Patrick Blanchard in his vehicle near Towner, ND. They attempted life-saving measures however, he was eventually pronounced deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound.

Officer Blanchard, who was also an Army veteran, joined the Minot Police Department in July 2017 and is survived by his two children.

Many days can be difficult for our officers and members of the Minot Police Department. This is one of those days. We ask for thoughts for Officer Blanchard’s family and many friends"

This is one of those stories where you find yourself wishing there was something YOU can do to help ease the pain - there is.

Now we can do our part to Serve And Protest

A gofundme page has been set up:

This fundraiser is for the family of Minot Police Dept. Officer Patrick Blanchard. Pat touched the lives of countless people across this country with his service in the United States Army as a combat veteran and a police officer for the City of Minot. Those who know Pat will tell you he was a fiercely loyal friend and was someone whom you would be thankful to have in your corner under any circumstance. Like many who give so much of their lives to the service of others, Pat’s internal struggles often went unanswered and unaddressed, ultimately costing him his life.

Please give what you can, I thought about this last night - THIS is a way WE can SERVE his loved ones, his family, and friends that are hurting - this is a way WE can help PROTECT his two children. Every little bit counts.