Published: July 08, 2007 08:19 am      

Floyd County firefighters raise $7,000 for officers' families

The outpouring of support for the families of the two Floyd County police officers who were shot last month continued Saturday, when volunteer firefighters raised more than $7,000 during a benefit breakfast.

Officers Frank Denzinger and Joel White were shot June 18 by 15-year-old Tyler Dumstorf when they responded to a domestic disturbance call at the teen’s home. Denzinger, 32, died of his wounds, while White, 27, is recovering in a local rehabilitation hospital. Dumstorf, who had been arguing with his mother and was due in court the next day on a drug charge, took his own life after shooting the officers.

Angi Satterfield, whose husband Jeromy is a Georgetown firefighter, came up with the idea of a pancake breakfast to benefit the officers’ families, said Chief Jim Kron.

“I think the guys wanted to do something,” Satterfield said. “We just had to pull together and come up with an idea.”

On Saturday, firefighters from the Georgetown, Greenville, Lafayette and New Chapel departments hosted the breakfast at Sam’s Food & Spirits in Floyds Knobs. While there was a steady flow of customers during the three-hour event, Kron said the community’s generosity extended beyond those who ate breakfast.

“We had one person pull up here a little while ago and say, ‘I’m not going to be able to eat, but here’s $100,’” said Kron.

Shortly before noon on Saturday, Kron said $6,936 had been accounted for, but that the final total was likely to exceed $7,000 because some people made donations late in the event and those dollars had not been counted yet.

Kron said the event — which included the sale of raffle tickets and memorial arm bands — got a boost from New Albany detective Perry Parsons, when he made available 300 of the $10 memorial T-shirts he has produced to raise money for Denzinger’s and White’s families.

At around 8 a.m. Saturday, Lanesville resident Angela Smith sat at a table near the restaurant’s kitchen with two of her children, 12-year-old Kendra and 16-month-old Alex. Sitting with them was Smith’s father, Borden resident John Wadsworth.

“We had seen the fliers,” Smith said. “We decided this morning that we’d meet for breakfast and support the families.”

Smith, who co-owns Clarksville’s Cannon’s Florist with her father, said her only ties to either officer is that some members of her family have been patients of Dr. Frank Denzinger, a New Albany orthodontist and the father of the slain officer.

As she waited for her breakfast, Smith said she was impressed by the number of people who had already come to the restaurant.

“It looks awesome,” she said. “I’m glad.”

Smith said her daughter Kendra has been particularly moved by the tragedy and stood at Lazy Creek waving a flag during Denzinger’s funeral procession.

Outside Sam’s Food & Spirits, a group of hot air balloonists were helping out, too.

Floyds Knobs resident Frank McCrory had brought his John Jones GM City balloon, while Sellersburg resident Tim Meredith was waiting to set up his McClure Drugs balloon. Both were offering tethered rides for donations to the officer’s families.

“If we could raise a little money for them to help, that’s what we needed to do,” McCrory said. “We’re not putting a set amount (for rides), that way people can give whatever they want.”

“I wanted to do something,” Meredith said.



120 mile Memorial Ride for Officers Frank Denzinger and Joel White

Floyd County — A 120 mile Memorial Ride for Officers Frank Denzinger and Joel White is July 14. Registration is 8:30 a.m. and motorcycle ride begins at 11 a.m. at IU Southeast, 4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany.

A minimum donation of $25 is required. Food will be provided. Contact Dave Bary at 502-930-2625 or 812-736-1507 or Jason Kahl 812-945-5245 or 812-989-6904. Endorsed by the FOP.

Special thanks to DuPont Wolf Auto Glass, John Jones GM City, Kahl’s Body Shop and Jacobi’s BB-Q.