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Cossette making life better on reservation
Published Saturday, November 8, 2008
Photo by Photo Provided
Fergus Falls native Jeremy Cossette serves as tribal police officer and school resource officer on the White Earth Indian Reservation north of Detroit Lakes.
As a youth, Fergus Falls native Jeremy Cossette had an interest in law enforcement. That’s not surprising.
His father, David, works as a dispatcher for the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Department and is a 26-year member of the department. Cossette’s mother, Janice, is the court administrator for Clay and Becker counties.
Since 2005 Cossette has worked as police officer and school resource officer on the White Earth Indian Reservation. His goal is help make life better on the reservation.
“I worked with the tribal council and local government officials to draft a primary seat belt law that will take effect on the reservation in January 2009,” he said. “I’m passionate about seat belt usage.”
That because, in 2002, Cossette was involved in a serious crash while working as an emergency medical technician.
“Jeremy is to be commended for his work in getting a primary seatbelt law passed on the reservation,” said Tom Kummrow, law enforcement liaison, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, Fergus Falls.
Kummrow and current Fergus Falls Police Sgt. Terry Eldien were mentors to Cossette, as early as his high school days.
Cossette is a 2002 graduate of Fergus Falls High School. He graduated from Alexandria Technical College in 2004 where he received the Highest Academic Achievement Award.
He worked for Ringdahl Ambulance, Fergus Falls, for five years and also worked two years with the Wilkin County Sheriff’s Department.
Cossette was honored during Minnesota’s annual Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) conference in Rochester. He received a 2008 Star Award for playing a key role in developing the Safe and Sober program on the White Earth Reservation.
The rest of the state does not have a primary law yet. White Earth is leading the state with this initiative.
The reservation, located north of Detroit Lakes, includes 1,200 square miles. The territory has half of Becker County, all of Mahnomen County and one-third of Clearwater County.
Cossette now lives in Barnesville with his wife, Kari, and their two daughters, Ella and Anika.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by karicob (anonymous) on November 8, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeremy was a student of mine when he was in 8th grade, and I'm so proud to hear he has become such a remarkable man, dedicated to making life safer and bettter to those who don't always get the support they need. Way to Go Jeremy.
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