Richard Doerfler: A caring teacher who will be missed by many

-- Lisa Quinn

News of the unexpected death of Richard Doerfler shook university students and faculty alike, not to mention his colleagues at the Burnsville Police Department, where he served as a police officer for over 25 years. Doerfler, known as Rick to his students, taught Minnesota Criminal and Traffic Codes in the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. The huge turnout at his funeral attests to the fact that he touched many lives throughout his years as a teacher and police officer. However, people attended his funeral because they’ll miss Rick on a personal level.

I am one of many who will miss Rick. Like most other students who knew him, I first met Rick when I took his class as a student in the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. There are many great teachers here, but an unusual number of students have told me Rick was one of their favorites.

One thing that was very clear to me was that Rick had a deep commitment to teaching his students what they needed to know, not just what they needed to pass his class. He prepared them for skills training as peace officers for the POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) test, and most importantly, to be good police officers. He called me before and after I took the POST test to “check in with me.” Mostly, it was to assure me I’d do fine, but he also made a point of confirming that he was teaching what I had needed to know for the test.

Rick was always mindful of opportunities to sharpen my “police officer-in-training” skills.

It is often said that teachers care about their students. And although this is true about many teachers, it was especially about Rick—it was something he lived. Rick showed he cared by developing his own booklets and other aids that were practical and useful, not only to his students, but also to many sworn officers. He showed he cared by spending the time and effort needed to take interested students on ride-a-longs (rides students take with on-duty police officers in order to observe their work), creating learning experiences and challenging students to think. He also showed he cared by keeping in touch with his students on a professional and personal basis. He called occasionally to ask how students were doing, what they were doing scholastically, how close they were to graduating, and to offer helpful suggestions on furthering their careers. He showed concern for his students and took pride in his profession.

Rick’s influence as a teacher and mentor touched many. He will never be forgotten, and our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to Rick’s family for their loss.

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