Kan. Officer Remembered as Devoted Family Man

Dec. 11--ATCHISON, Kan. -- The tightly-knit residents of Atchison will be missing another important piece of its communal fabric, following an officer's death late Friday afternoon.

For people in the area, speaking of Sgt. David Enzbrenner's life in the past tense, after some had just talked to him hours or days prior to his death, is an almost unspeakable task.

Some knew Mr. Enzbrenner as the police officer for the Atchison Police Department of 24 years, a son who continued his father's work as a law enforcement officer. Outside of his profession, he was known as the caring husband and father of three girls, a friendly neighbor, a humble citizen and helpful hand.

"Dave was very well thought-of here, as he was over (at the police department)," Cpt. Leroy Kipple, of the Atchison Fire Department, said.

Out of respect for the family, many who were asked for comment requested not to be identified. Anonymous or not, a common theme seemed to weave in and out of Atchison residents' conversation -- each trying to describe Mr. Enzbrenner as a great and honorable man, as they held back tears through often sad and tired eyes.

"I don't know what to say, but Dave was just a good human being," Dave Harrington, Mr. Enzbrenner's on-and-off barber in Atchison since he was a kid, said.

A trustee and active church member at Atchison United Methodist Church, which he attended with his family, Mr. Enzbrenner was the reliable, reserved man they could always count on, Pastor Cynthia Meyer said.

"With good spirits, (he) would come and help us with moving things or getting stuff out of the building and that kind of thing," she said. "He really preferred to be a sort of behind-the-scenes guy with all of that."

Though humble and soft-spoken, those who got to know Mr. Enzbrenner saw a lighter, funnier side when his guard came down.

"We had great fun with him once. We got him to participate in a skit in uniform and that was really fun. But a little out of character, I think," Ms. Meyer said, with a laugh.

With a legacy such as Mr. Enzbrenner's, it further complicates dissecting the reason for why his life was taken so senselessly.

"I don't know if you'd call it a state of shock, but just a state of unbelief that anybody would do something so damn, completely stupid," Mr. Harrington said.

The loss of Mr. Enzbrenner still sinking in, the grieving process for many has yet to begin as they reflect on his life.

"We're starting to grieve that loss within our congregation as well. So we don't know what that means yet," Ms. Meyer said.

Already having to gather together to grieve and rise up against adversity, following a tragic grain elevator explosion that killed six people in late October, residents will have to do it again, while carrying the fresh wounds from the previous incident.

"The community really did rally in some impressive ways," Ms. Meyer said. "I anticipate that that will continue. I think it draws the community together in many ways and helps us see how important individuals are."

The wheels of support already in motion, the church and community are already helping to honor Mr. Enzbrenner's life.

Merely 24 hours following his death, the city organized and gathered for a candlelight vigil to mourn Mr. Enzbrenner's death on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Enzbrenner family continues to receive support from both the church and community. A memorial fund, to help Mr. Enzbrenner's three children, is in the process of being established, Ms. Meyer said.

"God is weeping with those who weep and mourns with those who mourn," she said. "We'll be trying to assure folks of God's presence and to demonstrate that as we care for one another."

Andrew Gaug can be reached at [email protected].