Retired Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Don Cummines has died, the Sheriff’s Office announced.
Cummines, 76, of High Ridge was found dead Monday (Sept. 28), but the Sheriff’s Office did not know exactly when he died, Sheriff Dave Marshak said.
He said Cummines worked at the Sheriff’s Office from Jan. 1, 1993, until his retirement on Sept. 23, 2009.
“Working as a road supervisor, he was well respected, and any police officer who worked with him would say he was a ‘cops cop,’” Marshak said. “Our community should never forget the sacrifices Cpl. Cummines made for us. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends, as he will be missed by many.”
Former Jefferson County Sheriff Glen Boyer said he, too, thought highly of Cummines.
“I have known Don since I broke into police work in 1974,” Boyer said. “I will miss Don. He was one of those guys you liked to have around. He had a real dry humor.”
The Sheriff’s Office reported that in 1998, Cummines barely survived being shot in the head while responding to a domestic violence call in Byrnes Mill.
Many of the pellets from the blast could not be removed from his head, the report said.
“Don responded to a domestic violence call and unbeknownst to him, the individual went into a back room and armed himself,” Boyer said. “Don went into the back room to talk to the individual, not knowing he was armed, and was shot. There was a standoff, and we arrested the perpetrator. Don was rushed to the hospital, and I vividly remember going to the hospital and seeing Don.
“The doctor didn’t give him a whole lot of hope, but Don, being a strong-willed guy, made it through. We were all glad. It was very close there for about five days.”
Cummines was awarded the Medal of Valor while serving with the Sheriff’s Office, the post said.
“After he was shot in the head, Cpl. Cummines resigned his police commission as a result of a lengthy rehabilitation,” Marshak said. “He served in a civilian position until his retirement.”
“He carried seven or eight pellets in the front lobe of his brain,” Boyer added. “We tried to talk him into taking disability retirement, but he didn’t want to do that. We posted him as the person in charge of the evidence room, and he did an excellent job.”
Boyer said after Cummines left the Sheriff’s Office, the former deputy would drive cars across the country for car dealerships and later delivered auto parts for a national chain.