One day after losing his life, local law enforcement officers and firefighters joined together Saturday to pay tribute to fallen Warren County Deputy Paul Fricke. Despite being one player down, …
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One day after losing his life, local law enforcement officers and firefighters joined together Saturday to pay tribute to fallen Warren County Deputy Paul Fricke.
Despite being one player down, Warren County sheriff’s deputies overcame their grief and topped two other teams of firefighters to win the annual Guns ’N Hoses softball tournament.
The deputies lost their first game, but rebounded to win their final three to capture the first-place trophy.
Fricke, 37, who worked as a Warren County deputy and part time as Hawk Point police chief, was killed in a single-car accident Friday morning when the Hawk Point police cruiser he was driving left the roadway and struck a utility pole on Highway 47. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been a Warren County deputy for about five years and had served as chief in Hawk Point about four years.
Though there had been some early thoughts about postponing Saturday’s annual fundraiser hosted by Concerned Citizens for Animal Control, organizers said they knew Fricke would want the games to go on. He was slated to be the team’s catcher.
“It certainly has a new meaning today,” Wright City Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s a still that brotherhood. Something like this sends shockwaves, but we’re here for them (the deputies), for Fricke.”
In a tribute, the deputies had Fricke’s badge number embroidered on a shirt sleeve. Before each game, the deputies huddled around Fricke’s jersey hanging on the fence near their dugout. Prior to the first game Saturday, Fricke’s girlfriend, Windy Ray, threw out the first pitch.
Coincidentally, Fricke’s death came two years to the day after deputy Cliff Georgen lost his battle to cancer. Also, Saturday’s first game started around the same time the crash occurred.
“There are a lot of reminders here,” Sheriff Kevin Harrison said. “It was a pleasant distraction. The best thing the guys can do is to be together.”
Deputy Kevin Talir said Fricke was definitely on the minds of his teammates. Fricke was responsible for introducing Talir to his wife and their families enjoyed going fishing and camping together.
“He was a god guy, a leader, a warrior,” Talir said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better friend.”
