Richard and K-9 Dexter

My name is Richard Sieber, I was born and raised in Minnesota. I married my high school sweetheart Dawn, and we have been married for 30 years. My wife and I have two kids. I am Corrections Sergeant, and I work for the Minnesota Department of Corrections at MCF-Lino Lakes. I am a certified SCUBA diver and I enjoy time on the lake fishing at the cabin my wife rent in the summer.
I am also a U.S. Army Veteran with 24 years of military service. While in the military, I served as a Military Policeman (MP) in the Minnesota Army National Guard (MNARNG) from 1987 to 1989. I then transferred to the active-duty Army and served from 1989 to 1991 in Korea and Ft. Hood, TX. as an MP.
Throughout my time as an MP in the active-duty Army, I responded to critical incidents akin
to those handled by civilian law enforcement. These included fatal personal injury accidents, domestic violence cases, suicide calls, and high-risk traffic stops to name a few.
After leaving active duty I returned to military service with the MNARNG serving from 1992 to 1994 as an MP. I then had a break in military service from 1994 to 2002 I returned back into military service with the MNARNG after 9/11 events transpired and served in the MNARNG from 2002 to 2017. During this time, I deployed to Iraq with the 34th Infantry
Division (Red Bulls) from 2005 to 2007 after I reclassed from the being an MP to an Infantryman.
Prior to deploying to Iraq, I received devastating news while training at Camp Shelby, MS
preparing to deploy to Iraq. A close childhood friend, who was a Marine serving in Iraq, had
been killed by an Improved Explosive Device (IED). Once in Iraq, I was stationed Al Anbar
province, Iraq at a Forward Operating Base (FOB) called Camp Taqaddum. This FOB was in
an area called the Sunni Triangle which was also called the “Triangle of Death”.
While stationed where I was in Iraq, we would receive incoming direct and indirect fire quite often at least once or twice a week. Among my unit’s duties, we provided security for convoys shifts and dangerous
routes such as Routes Mobil. We also safeguarded the FOB’s perimeter in
towers during long shifts and contributed to the overall mission despite the constant
presence of danger.
During my deployment to Iraq, I saw a severely injured young female child about 10 years old who was the same age of my daughter at the time, being brought into the CASH to be treated for her injuries. To
this day, seeing that severely injured child stays VERY vivid in my mind.
I also suffered the loss of my team leader due to a VBIED a week before I was to go home for mandatory 2 week leave period. While at home on leave, I attended my friend's funeral. Both attending my friend’s funeral and being home on leave left an indelible mark on me both emotionally and mentally.
After returning from the deployment, I was struck by the tragic news that a Soldier from my platoon who I personally knew and deployed with had committed suicide.
While deployed to CUBA I was injured resulting in severely torn rotator cuff. As a result, I
was sent back to Ft. Bliss, TX for treatment of my injury. While at Ft. Bliss, recovering from
surgery for a shoulder injury. I continued my military service as an MP with the 3rd Criminal
Investigations Division (CID) Detachment at Ft. Bliss, TX, from October 2017 to April 2018.
While serving as an MP with the 3rd CID I responded to suicide calls, where I was exposed to deceased service members and the crime scenes of those types of calls.
I started with the Minnesota Department of Corrections(MNDOC) and I worked as a Correctional Officer and now as a Corrections Sergeant at the
Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF - Lino Lakes).
As a Corrections Officer / Sergeant, I have been involved in several critical incidents in
dealing with offenders within the facility.
I was involved in an All-Terrain Vehicle accident on the facility grounds In which I received a severe head injury. I was also a part of the MNDOC honor guard, and I stood as a casket sentinel for Officer Gomm, and I was the Honor Guard member that transported Officer Parise’s cremated remains in a squad car to his resting place. I had a plan to retire in December 2024 after a total of 24 years of service to the State of Minnesota. Unfortunately, due to the time away from the MNDOC due to several military
deployments, my plan to retire in 2024 was put on hold.
My family and friends have noticed changes in my mental health over time and voiced their
concerns. So, I reached out to the Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient mental health clinic at
the VA hospital in Minneapolis. After meeting with and speaking to VA Psychiatrist several
times. The VA Psychiatrist diagnosed me with "Adjustment disorder with depression and
anxious features and concerns of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)".
The VA Psychiatrist also indicated in their assessment that a service dog would help in
managing my mood symptoms and provide companionship as well. Besides the VA
Psychiatrist that I have been seeing. I as well as other people such as family and friends
feel having a service dog, Will help me manage my mental health now and, in the future,
after I retire completely.
ry