Before I start this article about the young man, Dylan Redwine, I want to offer my deepest sympathies to his family and friends. This tragedy has without a doubt devastated those closest to him, and I do not want to minimize that impact in any way with this article.
I do want to talk about this tragedy and the ensuing investigation into what has happened to Dylan. As many of you already know, I cannot release details of this investigation, but I can talk about the men and women who are dedicated to solving this mystery.
I know many of these law-enforcement experts personally and professionally. I can tell you without hesitation that anyone who has touched this case has been touched by this case. In the early stages of this case, they all had one mission in mind: “Find Dylan Redwine.” They all spent countless hours away from home and loved ones looking for Dylan. When they were home, their thoughts were often preoccupied with where this young man was. They may have been home physically; however, mentally, they were somewhere else.
Now that remains of his body have been found, the mission has changed to: “What happened to Dylan?” The members assembled to form the task force are all experts in their respective fields. The level of cooperation between agencies at the local, state and federal level is unprecedented in this case. The resource-sharing and combined efforts in this case are unheard of in most jurisdictions.
The amount of knowledge all of these experts share is awe-inspiring. The combined total of experience in the room most days exceeds hundreds of years. I can tell you with confidence that these men and women will follow the evidence and clues left in this case, and they will let the facts speak for themselves. They will not be swayed by public opinion or criticism, and they will ensure that justice is served in this case if someone is responsible for Dylan’s death.
All of us in law enforcement understand that these investigations take lengthy amounts of time and resources. We know that this will not be solved like a 60-minute episode of “CSI.” I would ask that all of you be patient with this investigation as it continues to churn every day even when it’s not the top story on the 5 p.m. newscast.
If one of these task force members is your loved one, I want to thank you for the sacrifices you are making. I know it is difficult to let them pursue this case, and every day you sacrifice precious time to let them work on it. I know you are as proud of them as we are in the law-enforcement community.
Finally, today, if you know one of these men or women on the task force or one of their family members, please thank them for the outstanding dedication they have to this case and the courage they all continue to show. They still have a long road ahead of them, and they will continue to have long days and sleepless nights.
Lt. Ray Shupe is assistant operations division commander with the Durango Police Department.
