John Dabritz
Published Friday, March 27, 2020 | 9:45 a.m.
Updated Friday, March 27, 2020 | 8:35 p.m.
Sgt. Ben Jenkins
Along this narrow rural Nevada highway, it’s common for troopers to encounter motorists stalled off to the side. Some are simply resting, while others might need some assistance.
On Friday just before dawn, Nevada Highway Patrol Sgt. Ben Jenkins was “just doing his job” when he spotted a car parked at mile marker 106 on U.S. 93 in White Pine County, north of Ely, Col. Daniel Solow said.
The patrol veteran was checking on the vehicle at 5:54 a.m. when its motorist, John Dabritz, 65, abruptly pulled out a firearm and blasted at least one round, fatally wounding the officer, Solow said. Then, the alleged killer stole Jenkins’ uniform, gear and cruiser, an act the colonel said was personally difficult to discuss.
A black band stretched across Solow’s badge, a sign of law enforcement grieving.
Dabritz was taken into custody about four hours later, about 100 miles from the slaying scene, in Cherry Creek, another remote Nevada town, said Solow, noting that he was near the cruiser, which was inoperable after it had crashed into a wash.
Authorities were investigating the suspect's movements from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and trying to determine a possible motive, Solow said. They’d learned he has a history of arrests dating back to the 1970s.
The suspect was being held in jail in White Pine County, but a list of possible charges hadn’t been released. Metro Police will be investigating the scene at Cherry Creek while the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will probe the slaying, Solow said.
The shooting shook Nevada law enforcement, which took to social media to honor Jenkins and offered condolences to his colleagues.
The slain officer will be remembered as a 2011 recipient of the Nevada Department of Safety’s Gold Medal of Valor, its highest honor, for a time he and other law enforcement came under fire during a domestic violence call in which another officer was critically injured, Solow said.
“Sgt. Jenkins’ heroic actions as an officer undoubtedly saved many lives throughout his career in law enforcement,” said Gov. Steve Sisolak in a statement. “May he rest in peace. Sgt. Jenkins will never be forgotten.” The governor subsequently ordered U.S. and Nevada flags to be flown at half-staff.
Jenkins joined the patrol in 2008 and was promoted to sergeant in 2017, officials said. Before that, he was a training officer for the Nevada State Fire Marshal Division, a supervisor with the Nevada Division of Forestry, and assistant fire chief for the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
He was a military veteran who served with both the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
“Without question, Sgt. Jenkins was a hero to his community, his law enforcement colleagues, the state of Nevada and our country,” Director of Public Safety George Togliatti said in a statement.
“This is a tremendous loss for the Nevada Highway Patrol, his family, and everyone Sgt. Jenkins touched during his long and honorable career in public service,” Togliatti said. “My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this period of mourning.”
Jenkins is survived by his wife, four children and five grandchildren, and his mother.
