Dennis Rodeman: Michigan Firefighter Killed Doing Good Deed

Dennis Rodeman was killed doing a good deed in Lansing. The Michigan firefighter was hit by a pickup truck while collecting money for a local charity with his fellow first responders earlier this week. The Iraq war veteran and 7-year member of the fire department was intentionally hit by the driver, police say.

Kristina Rodeman-Brower, a cousin of the fallen firefighter, represented the family at a September 11 memorial ceremony which takes place at a site where a piece of the wreckage from the Twin Towers, is placed on display. She and Dennis Rodeman had always attended the service together and did not feel the Michigan firefighter would want her to break their tradition.

“I just figured I needed to be here,” Rodeman-Brower said. “This is my family, and they can’t be here, so I might as well, the Detroit Free Press reports.

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International Association of Firefighter’s Local 421 President Chris Lake said Dennis Rodeman, like those who died during the 9/11 attacks, said goodbye to his family in the morning and didn’t come home.

“We’re going to grieve for our brother, Dennis, put our boots on, provide the best fire and EMS service protection that we can for the citizens and visitors of the city,” Lake said. “The Lansing firefighters today [September 11] will honor those we lost.”

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Rodeman had was as a firefighter for seven years. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero announced to a saddened community Dodeman, 35, died at a local hospital on September 9. He standing in the turn lane of the road and wearing a reflective vest and was not in the direct line of traffic when he was hit and killed.

“This is a shocking and unthinkable tragedy. Dennis was cut down in an instant, doing what he loved, what he believed in, what he believed in most: helping other people,” Mayor Bernero said.

Rodeman was married two months ago – he and his wife were expecting their first child. Lansing Fire Chief Randy Talifarro called the firefighter’s death a “tremendous loss” and heralded the Rodeman, who boasted an unblemished work history, a “joy to work around.”

The firefighters were volunteering for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and International Association of Firefighters fundraiser when Rodeman was struck by the pickup truck around 3:40 p.m.

Lansing Police Captain Jim Kraus said a “traffic altercation” involving the pickup truck driver happened before Rodeman was struck and killed, according to the Lansing State Journal.

“The suspect came by, was upset for whatever reason [and] circled back around before striking the firefighter. The preliminary investigation is that he deliberately hit the firefighter,” Captain Kraus said.

The truck fled the scene but the driver and suspected murdered was ultimately caught and arrested. The Dennis Rodeman hit-and-run suspect is being held on suspicion of both murder and felony fleeing and eluding charges.

[Image via: Twitter]