CWU Police Officer Back On Duty After Iraq Injury

November 18, 2004

Contact: Steve Rittereiser (509-963-2959/fax 509-963-2994/e-mail: chiefr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Just five months after being injured while on duty in Iraq, Central Washington University police officer Jeff St. John is back at work on the Ellensburg campus.

On June 14, St. John, a staff sergeant with the Washington National Guard's 116th Support Center, was wounded by a mortar blast near the city of Mosul and was transported to Germany for treatment of upper abdominal wounds.

Following a full recovery, St. John returned to active status with CWU public safety and police services on Nov. 12. He initially joined the university force in September 2001.

A celebration in honor of St. John's return is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m. in Barge 412. Jack Baker, assistant vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and a fellow veteran, will be the featured speaker. In addition, Steve Rittereiser, CWU police chief, and St. John are expected to make some brief remarks. Cake and light refreshments will also be served.

"The department of public safety and police services is inviting friends, faculty, staff and students to join us in welcoming Jeff home," Rittereiser says.

For more information about the event, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-2959, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.