Amidst Memorial Services Ben Learns About The Safeway Shooting Victim S Criminal Past

Bradley W. Parks / OPB Donald Ray Sarrett Jr. is being called a hero for confronting the gunman inside the Bend Safeway where he worked Sunday, a decision that police say cost him his life but likely saved the lives of others. While Surrett’s final act rightly earned him praise this week, details from his past show a much more complex figure. Those details could affect efforts to memorialize him — ideas for which so far include a memorial plaque and a community college scholarship. According to Oregon State Police and Army records, Surrett was convicted in October 1994 of sex crimes involving a minor while still serving in the U.S. Army. He was 38 when he was convicted and served 26 years in the military. A military court sentenced Surrett to 10 years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas after pleading guilty to two counts of carnal knowledge and two counts of indecent acts. According to US Army spokeswoman Madison Bonzo, Surrett was demoted from sergeant first class to private as a result of the conviction. He did not serve his entire 10-year sentence and moved to Oregon in the early 2000s, according to public records. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel confirmed that Surrett was convicted of “indecency with a minor” in a court-martial. Information from state court records and the Oregon State Police sex offender registry indicate Surrett did not reoffend after his release and law enforcement considered him a Level 1 offender, the lowest classification in the state and an indication that he was not considered a high risk to reoffend. Since Sunday’s shooting, community leaders, police and co-workers have praised Surrett’s actions at Safeway. Police say he was waiting behind a produce cart at the store after a 20-year-old gunman killed Glenn Edward Bennett, 84, near the entrance. As the gunman advanced further into the store, Sarrett lunged at him with a knife, police said, delaying the gunman’s shooting spree. The shooter killed himself as police entered the building, minutes after the first 911 call. Sheila Miller, spokeswoman for the Bend Police Department, told OPB that police learned of Surrett’s criminal history as they investigated Sunday’s shooting. “Mr. Surrett’s record does not change the fact that in this case, when faced with great danger, he acted heroically by attacking and attempting to disarm an active shooter in his workplace,” Miller said. “While Mr. Surrett’s past may complicate how people feel about his legacy, his actions at this time were courageous and for those actions, he deserves praise.” City officials said they have received suggestions from the public to honor Surrett’s actions. The Bend chapter of the group Disabled American Veterans, in which Surrett was active, plans to push for a plaque in his honor at a veterans memorial in the city, member George McCart said this week. The Central Oregon Community College spokesman also said that faculty and staff had suggested various memorials to honor Surrett, including a possible scholarship, but that nothing had been formally introduced. Bend Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Broadman said “two things can go at once” — Surrett’s heroic actions and his past transgressions — but that any remembrance of Surrett should consider the potential impact on the people he died. “I think it would probably depend more on thinking about the potential ramifications of seeing his name if there were victims who could be re-traumatized by it,” Brodman said. He also said families should be given sufficient time to grieve before discussions about memorial services begin. A spokesman for Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, told OPB Thursday that Surrett had “cleared a third-party background check” but that the company did not know he was a sex offender. Oregon, like many states, has tried to lower the barriers to rehabilitation for people convicted of crimes. For example, Oregon law prevents employers from asking about a person’s criminal history prior to the interview process. OPB also reached out to several of Surrett’s family members, who either declined to comment or did not respond. Brodman said the community should also remember the other acts of heroism surrounding the shooting: the officers who entered the store while the gunman was still shooting and the two people who reentered to drag Bennett to an ambulance. “It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to be bothered by the fact that heroic actions often make us feel conflicted,” he said.

title: “Amidst Memorial Services Ben Learns About The Safeway Shooting Victim S Criminal Past Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-23” author: “Charles Shackford”

Bradley W. Parks / OPB Donald Ray Sarrett Jr. is being called a hero for confronting the gunman inside the Bend Safeway where he worked Sunday, a decision that police say cost him his life but likely saved the lives of others. While Surrett’s final act rightly earned him praise this week, details from his past show a much more complex figure. Those details could affect efforts to memorialize him — ideas for which so far include a memorial plaque and a community college scholarship. According to Oregon State Police and Army records, Surrett was convicted in October 1994 of sex crimes involving a minor while still serving in the U.S. Army. He was 38 when he was convicted and served 26 years in the military. A military court sentenced Surrett to 10 years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas after pleading guilty to two counts of carnal knowledge and two counts of indecent acts. According to US Army spokeswoman Madison Bonzo, Surrett was demoted from sergeant first class to private as a result of the conviction. He did not serve his entire 10-year sentence and moved to Oregon in the early 2000s, according to public records. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel confirmed that Surrett was convicted of “indecency with a minor” in a court-martial. Information from state court records and the Oregon State Police sex offender registry indicate Surrett did not reoffend after his release and law enforcement considered him a Level 1 offender, the lowest classification in the state and an indication that he was not considered a high risk to reoffend. Since Sunday’s shooting, community leaders, police and co-workers have praised Surrett’s actions at Safeway. Police say he was waiting behind a produce cart at the store after a 20-year-old gunman killed Glenn Edward Bennett, 84, near the entrance. As the gunman advanced further into the store, Sarrett lunged at him with a knife, police said, delaying the gunman’s shooting spree. The shooter killed himself as police entered the building, minutes after the first 911 call. Sheila Miller, spokeswoman for the Bend Police Department, told OPB that police learned of Surrett’s criminal history as they investigated Sunday’s shooting. “Mr. Surrett’s record does not change the fact that in this case, when faced with great danger, he acted heroically by attacking and attempting to disarm an active shooter in his workplace,” Miller said. “While Mr. Surrett’s past may complicate how people feel about his legacy, his actions at this time were courageous and for those actions, he deserves praise.” City officials said they have received suggestions from the public to honor Surrett’s actions. The Bend chapter of the group Disabled American Veterans, in which Surrett was active, plans to push for a plaque in his honor at a veterans memorial in the city, member George McCart said this week. The Central Oregon Community College spokesman also said that faculty and staff had suggested various memorials to honor Surrett, including a possible scholarship, but that nothing had been formally introduced. Bend Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Broadman said “two things can go at once” — Surrett’s heroic actions and his past transgressions — but that any remembrance of Surrett should consider the potential impact on the people he died. “I think it would probably depend more on thinking about the potential ramifications of seeing his name if there were victims who could be re-traumatized by it,” Brodman said. He also said families should be given sufficient time to grieve before discussions about memorial services begin. A spokesman for Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, told OPB Thursday that Surrett had “cleared a third-party background check” but that the company did not know he was a sex offender. Oregon, like many states, has tried to lower the barriers to rehabilitation for people convicted of crimes. For example, Oregon law prevents employers from asking about a person’s criminal history prior to the interview process. OPB also reached out to several of Surrett’s family members, who either declined to comment or did not respond. Brodman said the community should also remember the other acts of heroism surrounding the shooting: the officers who entered the store while the gunman was still shooting and the two people who reentered to drag Bennett to an ambulance. “It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to be bothered by the fact that heroic actions often make us feel conflicted,” he said.

title: “Amidst Memorial Services Ben Learns About The Safeway Shooting Victim S Criminal Past Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Dora Mcinnis”

Bradley W. Parks / OPB Donald Ray Sarrett Jr. is being called a hero for confronting the gunman inside the Bend Safeway where he worked Sunday, a decision that police say cost him his life but likely saved the lives of others. While Surrett’s final act rightly earned him praise this week, details from his past show a much more complex figure. Those details could affect efforts to memorialize him — ideas for which so far include a memorial plaque and a community college scholarship. According to Oregon State Police and Army records, Surrett was convicted in October 1994 of sex crimes involving a minor while still serving in the U.S. Army. He was 38 when he was convicted and served 26 years in the military. A military court sentenced Surrett to 10 years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas after pleading guilty to two counts of carnal knowledge and two counts of indecent acts. According to US Army spokeswoman Madison Bonzo, Surrett was demoted from sergeant first class to private as a result of the conviction. He did not serve his entire 10-year sentence and moved to Oregon in the early 2000s, according to public records. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel confirmed that Surrett was convicted of “indecency with a minor” in a court-martial. Information from state court records and the Oregon State Police sex offender registry indicate Surrett did not reoffend after his release and law enforcement considered him a Level 1 offender, the lowest classification in the state and an indication that he was not considered a high risk to reoffend. Since Sunday’s shooting, community leaders, police and co-workers have praised Surrett’s actions at Safeway. Police say he was waiting behind a produce cart at the store after a 20-year-old gunman killed Glenn Edward Bennett, 84, near the entrance. As the gunman advanced further into the store, Sarrett lunged at him with a knife, police said, delaying the gunman’s shooting spree. The shooter killed himself as police entered the building, minutes after the first 911 call. Sheila Miller, spokeswoman for the Bend Police Department, told OPB that police learned of Surrett’s criminal history as they investigated Sunday’s shooting. “Mr. Surrett’s record does not change the fact that in this case, when faced with great danger, he acted heroically by attacking and attempting to disarm an active shooter in his workplace,” Miller said. “While Mr. Surrett’s past may complicate how people feel about his legacy, his actions at this time were courageous and for those actions, he deserves praise.” City officials said they have received suggestions from the public to honor Surrett’s actions. The Bend chapter of the group Disabled American Veterans, in which Surrett was active, plans to push for a plaque in his honor at a veterans memorial in the city, member George McCart said this week. The Central Oregon Community College spokesman also said that faculty and staff had suggested various memorials to honor Surrett, including a possible scholarship, but that nothing had been formally introduced. Bend Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Broadman said “two things can go at once” — Surrett’s heroic actions and his past transgressions — but that any remembrance of Surrett should consider the potential impact on the people he died. “I think it would probably depend more on thinking about the potential ramifications of seeing his name if there were victims who could be re-traumatized by it,” Brodman said. He also said families should be given sufficient time to grieve before discussions about memorial services begin. A spokesman for Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, told OPB Thursday that Surrett had “cleared a third-party background check” but that the company did not know he was a sex offender. Oregon, like many states, has tried to lower the barriers to rehabilitation for people convicted of crimes. For example, Oregon law prevents employers from asking about a person’s criminal history prior to the interview process. OPB also reached out to several of Surrett’s family members, who either declined to comment or did not respond. Brodman said the community should also remember the other acts of heroism surrounding the shooting: the officers who entered the store while the gunman was still shooting and the two people who reentered to drag Bennett to an ambulance. “It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to be bothered by the fact that heroic actions often make us feel conflicted,” he said.

title: “Amidst Memorial Services Ben Learns About The Safeway Shooting Victim S Criminal Past Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Mary Simmons”

Bradley W. Parks / OPB Donald Ray Sarrett Jr. is being called a hero for confronting the gunman inside the Bend Safeway where he worked Sunday, a decision that police say cost him his life but likely saved the lives of others. While Surrett’s final act rightly earned him praise this week, details from his past show a much more complex figure. Those details could affect efforts to memorialize him — ideas for which so far include a memorial plaque and a community college scholarship. According to Oregon State Police and Army records, Surrett was convicted in October 1994 of sex crimes involving a minor while still serving in the U.S. Army. He was 38 when he was convicted and served 26 years in the military. A military court sentenced Surrett to 10 years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas after pleading guilty to two counts of carnal knowledge and two counts of indecent acts. According to US Army spokeswoman Madison Bonzo, Surrett was demoted from sergeant first class to private as a result of the conviction. He did not serve his entire 10-year sentence and moved to Oregon in the early 2000s, according to public records. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel confirmed that Surrett was convicted of “indecency with a minor” in a court-martial. Information from state court records and the Oregon State Police sex offender registry indicate Surrett did not reoffend after his release and law enforcement considered him a Level 1 offender, the lowest classification in the state and an indication that he was not considered a high risk to reoffend. Since Sunday’s shooting, community leaders, police and co-workers have praised Surrett’s actions at Safeway. Police say he was waiting behind a produce cart at the store after a 20-year-old gunman killed Glenn Edward Bennett, 84, near the entrance. As the gunman advanced further into the store, Sarrett lunged at him with a knife, police said, delaying the gunman’s shooting spree. The shooter killed himself as police entered the building, minutes after the first 911 call. Sheila Miller, spokeswoman for the Bend Police Department, told OPB that police learned of Surrett’s criminal history as they investigated Sunday’s shooting. “Mr. Surrett’s record does not change the fact that in this case, when faced with great danger, he acted heroically by attacking and attempting to disarm an active shooter in his workplace,” Miller said. “While Mr. Surrett’s past may complicate how people feel about his legacy, his actions at this time were courageous and for those actions, he deserves praise.” City officials said they have received suggestions from the public to honor Surrett’s actions. The Bend chapter of the group Disabled American Veterans, in which Surrett was active, plans to push for a plaque in his honor at a veterans memorial in the city, member George McCart said this week. The Central Oregon Community College spokesman also said that faculty and staff had suggested various memorials to honor Surrett, including a possible scholarship, but that nothing had been formally introduced. Bend Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Broadman said “two things can go at once” — Surrett’s heroic actions and his past transgressions — but that any remembrance of Surrett should consider the potential impact on the people he died. “I think it would probably depend more on thinking about the potential ramifications of seeing his name if there were victims who could be re-traumatized by it,” Brodman said. He also said families should be given sufficient time to grieve before discussions about memorial services begin. A spokesman for Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons, told OPB Thursday that Surrett had “cleared a third-party background check” but that the company did not know he was a sex offender. Oregon, like many states, has tried to lower the barriers to rehabilitation for people convicted of crimes. For example, Oregon law prevents employers from asking about a person’s criminal history prior to the interview process. OPB also reached out to several of Surrett’s family members, who either declined to comment or did not respond. Brodman said the community should also remember the other acts of heroism surrounding the shooting: the officers who entered the store while the gunman was still shooting and the two people who reentered to drag Bennett to an ambulance. “It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to be bothered by the fact that heroic actions often make us feel conflicted,” he said.