St. Louis Area Chief LODD

[StLRes2cue]

40 + Years on the Job.
Career / ALS Department Chief
Only Son is a Captain in his Department.
Just Christened two new firehouses.

Killed by a MUTT for a $10 Watch


From StLRes2cue:

Affton Fire Protection district is located directly against the St. Louis City Limits and responds to many of STLFD's alarms on the city's south side. The Chief was a good man, and a good Jake. He will be missed.

Rest Easy Chief...we'll take it from here.






From St Louis Channel 5

(KSDK) — Police and firefighters across the St. Louis area are mourning the fire chief in Affton.

Chief Jerry Buehne died Thursday morning when a driver fleeing from police lost control and crashed into his car.

It started when police say a man stole some merchandise from a Walgreens store at the corner of Gravois and Sappington.

It ended about four miles away with the crash into Buehne's car at Gravois and Rosemary.

The crash was so violent, one woman said she heard it from her house half a mile away from the scene.

The crash between the two vehicles happened around 9:00 a.m. The impact was so great, the engine was ripped from one of the vehicles.

The suspect is only identified as a 44-year-old man from North County. He was taken to a local hospital in very serious condition.

No charges have been filed.

[StLRes2cue]

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Chief Buehne is being remembered as a well respected, humble man.

Those who knew him best say he was devoted to his family and his career.

This district is where the chief has spent the last 40 years working his way up the ranks.

Earlier Thursday he was being remembered by co-workers who lowered two flags to half staff in memory of their chief. Black bunting was placed outside the Affton fire district's headquarters.

Chief Jerry Buehne had held the district's highest position for the past five years.

Prior to that, the 64 year old had been the assistant chief for nearly twenty years.

Buehne was married with a grown daughter and son. The chief had four grandchildren.

Many former co-workers say Buehne loved his job and the community, but most of all his family.

Retired Firefighter Al Kirchhofer said, "He was a prince. Firefighting was his life and he was good for the community and he thought of the men he worked with."

His daughter lives in California. His son Tim is a captain in the Fenton fire department

[arhaney]

Thoughts and prayers go out to the Family, friends and fellow firefighters who are grieving over the loss of Chief Buehne.


I hope they put the SOB under the jail for taking away a good man from us!

[Crisb1419]

Rest in Peace our Brother, Thoughts and prayers to the Family of Chief Jerry Buehne from your brothers on the east side of the river.

[fieldseng2]

My best friends father-in-law was a dispatcher for the Affton Fire Dept...The chief was a good man...

God bless him and his family.


fieldseng2

[CaptOldTimer]

About the same post that was in a thread earlier in the day.


Rest In Peace






allineedisu
Senior Member

Registered: Apr 2004
Location:
Posts: 190
Affton, Mo Chief Killed In Mva
From www.stltoday.com




Affton fire chief killed in crash


By Bill Bryan
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/10/2005

Jerry Buehne, the chief of the Affton Fire Protection district, was killed shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday when his car was struck by another car driven at a high rate of speed by a shoplifting suspect who had crossed the center line on Gravois Road in Affton, authorities said. The other motorist, a 44-year-old man, was seriously injured.

St. Louis County Police Officer Rick Eckhard said police were not chasing the suspect at the time of the crash. He gave this account: County police were notified by a Walgreen's drug store in the 11000 block of Gravois that a man had just stolen something and was leaving the store.

As police approached, the suspect sped away, east on Gravois, in a purple PT Cruiser.

In the 8600 block of Gravois, at the intersection of Rosemary Avenue, the PT Cruiser crossed the center line and collided with a westbound car driven by Buehne, who was on his way to work. Buehne was pronounced dead at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Eckhard said police were about three quarters of a mile behind the speeding car and were not chasing it at the time of the crash.

The shoplifting suspect was ejected from his car.

Gravois was closed to traffic in both directions about three hours.




Sincere condolences to his family and the Department.


May He Rest In Peace



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03-10-2005 02:53 PM

[StLRes2cue]

MUTT That Killed Chief Charged with 2nd degree Murder !


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charges Filed Against Man Driving Car That Killed Affton Fire Chief


(KSDK) - Affton Fire Chief Jerry Buehne was killed Thursday when his car was hit by a vehicle driven by a suspected shoplifter.

Claudex Simmons, 44, of St. Louis County has been charged with second degree murder, armed criminal action, felony resisting by flight, felony stealing, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Simmons is in custody, but still listed in serious condition in an area hospital. He is being held on $250,000 bond.

Chief Jerry Buehne served with the Affton Fire department for 42 years. He was promoted to chief 3 and a half years ago.

He died Thursday morning driving to work on Gravois. He was hit head-on by a suspected shoplifter who was fleeing police.

Chief Buehne was planning to retire this year.

Interim Affton Fire Chief John Rausch remembers, "He was a down to earth individual, honest and trustworthy, and everyone just loved him as a brother in the service."

Funeral arrangements were announced Friday morning.

Visitation for Affton Fire Chief Jerry Buehne will be this Sunday, March 13, 2005 between 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Kutis funeral Home, 10151 Gravois.

There will be a casket vigil conducted during visitation and the traditional firefighters walk through will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

The funeral service is scheduled for Monday, March 14, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. The service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 6101 Telegraph Road in Oakville.

Following the funeral services, the procession will depart the church and go past the Affton Fire Station located at 9282 Gravois, then on to Resurrection Cemetery, 6901 Mackenzie Road, for burial.

Affton Assistant Fire Chief John Rausch is expected to be appointed as interim chief.

The suspect is still in the hospital in critical condition.