After Moszer's death, small Minnesota town rallies for one of its own

SABIN, Minn. – The color blue glows throughout this small town in honor of Jason Moszer, a Fargo police officer and Sabin resident killed in the line of duty last week.

Carrying boxes of donated blue light bulbs, volunteer firefighters walked the town Thursday evening, knocking on doors and giving away the bulbs, which shine from front porches as a sign of respect for the officer, dead at age 33.

"We just want to show our support for the family and make sure that every house has a blue light, if we can pull that off," Sabin Councilman Tom Berglind said.

Jason Moszer's death has stunned Sabin, a bedroom community of 500 people located a 20-minute drive southeast of Fargo.

"Everyone's sad and upset over what happened, but it's amazing how the community has pulled together," Berglind said. "Everyone's working together."

Entering town on County Highway 52, one can't help but notice the blue ribbons tied to the "Welcome to Sabin" sign. More ribbons are tied on the wooden poles lining Sabin's main drag.

"Small town, small town. That's what it's all about," said Adam Jenstead, president of the Sabin Lions Club. "You choose to live in a small town for a reason. It makes no sense to go to the big city when you can have a nice, tight community like you have here."

The Fire Department and the Lions Club worked together to organize the blue bulb giveaway and pasta feed benefit for the Moszer family planned for March 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Sabin Community Center.

Jenstead is expecting to feed more than 2,000 people.

"The support we've already gotten for that is amazing," Sabin-Elmwood Fire Chief Randy Schmidt said.

The fire department wants to help the Moszer family because "he was a citizen of our community," Schmidt said. "He was a police officer and you know, police officers and fireman, it's like a brotherhood."

"Everybody's family"

Jason Moszer built his dream house in Sabin in 2013, the year he married Rachel and became a stepfather to two children, Jolee and Dillan.

The family was one of many that showed up for the Wednesday steak dinner special at Crow Bar, the only restaurant and bar in town, according to bartender Jeannine Schuler.

Moszer's death has been hard on the close-knit community.

"That's how this town is," Schuler said. "Everybody's family. Whether we're related or not, we're all family."

Moszer was fatally shot Feb. 10 during a standoff with Marcus Schumacher, a 49-year-old who was holed up inside his north Fargo home, according to police. Police were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance at the Schumacher home. The standoff ended with Schumacher's death, either by suicide or police fire.

Tim Getz, the Crow Bar's cook, linked the shooting to Fargo's growth.

"Fargo wants to get bigger and this is what comes with being bigger, too, unfortunately," he said. "No officer should have to be shot just for doing his job."

Getz said he felt sorry for both the Moszer and Schumacher families. Marcus Schumacher is survived by his wife, Michelle, and three children, Alexa, Dalton and Cody.

"I feel sorry for his family," Getz said. "He was the idiot with the gun and his family's got to suffer for it now, too, because of it."

Outside the Sabin fire hall, a flag flies at half-staff. A poster shows a picture of Jason Moszer inside a white border, where friends, family and fellow officers have scribbled notes of remembrance:

"Thank you for your service." "You are a hero!" "Rest easy brother!"

One note, signed Madelyn, reads: "I love you. I will never have a better uncle."