Officer Karl William Reishus

Karl William Reishus

Officer Karl Reishus succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he fell from a 40-foot tower during a training exercise.

He was training with members of Juneau Mountain Rescue Volunteer Group as they practiced a rescue scenario that involved lowering a victim in a litter while a rescuer rappelled alongside the victim. Something went wrong with the ropes as Officer Reishus attempted to stabilize them. He was pulled over a 3-foot safety wall and fell to the ground below. The person in the litter and the rappeller also fell to the ground and were both injured.

Officer Reishus had served with the Juneau Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Sitka Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife, two sons and daughter.