The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MN Chiefs) awarded Wheaton Police Officer Jason Berning with its State Distinguished Service Award on April 8th 2009 at the association’s annual conference in Rochester, Minn.
An audience of 300 Minnesota police chiefs and law enforcement colleagues and family members applauded for Officer Berning for his service during 2008. The Distinguished Service Award is presented for exceptional achievement, including extraordinary valor, bravery, and detective work.
Chief Johannsen recognized the significance of this officer’s efforts in apprehending a suspect that had allegedly committed a sexual assault and knifing of a young girl and also assaulted the girl’s mother with a knife. Berning was responding to backup the Big Stone County Sheriff’s Department in Clinton MN, when he encountered the suspect fleeing on an ATV in Traverse County north of Graceville MN, the suspect fled into a corn field. Berning alone and on foot went after the suspect and tried to contain the suspect, while at the same time radioing for help, directing backup units to locations to set up perimeters, also talking to dispatch on his cell phone, he then encountered the suspect who was walking toward the officer with knife in hand. After twice ordering the suspect to drop the knife, the suspect surrendered to police. If it would not have been for the quick thinking and efforts of this officer, the outcome of this situation could have been entirely different.
The MN Chiefs annual awards honor those who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism in promoting public safety or preventing loss of life.
Michael Johannsen
Chief of Police
Wheaton Police Department
Box 826
203 7th St. N.
Wheaton, MN. 56296
Office: 320-563-4214
All of us our proud of these efforts. Jason is the son of Joseph and Deb Berning of Ortonville, MN
Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:44 pm
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