Wisconsin police officer trains for a cause close to his heart

GREEN BAY (WITI) -- At a crime scene, or behind the wheel of a squad car, you expect to see police officers in full uniform.  That uniform can seem a little out of place in the middle of a marathon -- but that’s what’s Officer Israel Deutsch is running in.

On-duty, Officer Deutsch works for the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, right outside of Green Bay, but what he does off-duty reaches beyond his jurisdiction.

“What I`m trying to do is raise 25,000 dollars for a program called “Concerns Of Police Survivors.”

C.O.P.S. fills a unique need -- it supports families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.

“You don’t know which call you’re going on that you’re going to die on. Officers have died giving parking tickets out and being ambushed by people before, officers have died on domestic violence incidents, weapons calls, it doesn’t matter what call you go on,” explained Officer Deutsch, “’It takes its emotional toll because you don’t know that the next call you go on, it might sound like something minor, but the next call you go on, it could be your last.”

Jenna Aleman knows that, better than most. Just two years ago she lost her husband, Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputy Sergio Aleman when his squad rear-ended a flatbed tow truck on I-43, just north of the Marquette Interchange.

“I wasn`t prepared,” said Jenna Aleman, “He alerted me of the danger that something like that could happen, but I never thought it would be us.  He said if they ever come to the door, if they ever come to get you at work, prepare yourself. And I was at work when I got the call and I knew it wasn`t good. I was hoping for the best but unfortunately we were dealt with the worst possible situation.”

It was a seemingly impossible situation for her and their 5 children.

“My husband is what kept us all going. He was a part of everything that made everybody happy. He was everything,” said Aleman. “I didn`t know how to help myself let alone help my children.”

But then C.O.P.S stepped in: “C.O.P.S. provided us with support and understanding and guidance that no one else could have for our family,” said Aleman.

What C.O.P.S. did for her then, now has renewed meaning when she sees what Israel is doing now.

“For him to be doing this and recognizing it and understanding the need for all of the families is great,” said Aleman.

And what he’s doing is just a marathon -- the marathons he does all over the state are really just part of his training. Israel's getting ready for "Iron Man Wisconsin" in September in Madison.  That’s 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles on a bike, and 26.2 miles running. And he’s doing it all in full police uniform -- all 40 pounds of it.

“It’s not easy biking and running in this stuff. The heat really gets to you,” said Officer Deutsch.

It took a while for those revelations to shape, as it did the goal itself. But like many monumental decisions, it had one important catalyst- in this case, a friend - Mequon Officer Tyler Gaidish.

“Tyler has a huge influence. When Tyler interacted with people, he made people feel special, he made people feel like they were number one when he talked to them,” said Officer Deutsch, “and after his death I finally realized I needed to make a difference and change my life somehow.”

His friend's death inadvertently led Israel to what has become part two of his mission -- raising awareness of police suicides.

“When I saw he was dedicating his work in memory of a friend who died by suicide, I was just so pleased to see that movement,” said Mary VanHaute, Suicide Prevention Educator/Trainer.

It's giving people like VanHaute, who has dedicated her life to suicide prevention and awareness particularly with law enforcement, hope.

“There are other ways that they can die. And what he`s doing is equalizing that, and honoring and remembering a friend in the same way that he`s honoring and remembering those who died in the line of duty,” said VanHaute.

And those memories, of all officers who have died, keep Israel going with every stroke, pedal, and step.

“This journey is not about me, it’s about every law enforcement officer,” said Officer Deutsch.

So far, Officer Deutsch has raised $15,000. To donate, CLICK HERE.

To learn more about his cause and journey, CLICK HERE.

For more on C.O.P.S., CLICK HERE.