David Stuebe and Chuck Doze met at an athletic club about 10 years ago and became “workout buddies,” then full-fledged friends, bonding over their similar backgrounds — military for Stuebe, law enforcement for Doze — and their mutual desire to stay fit.
“You can tell he’s incredibly dedicated because he’s in the gym and he’s working out and he’s trying to stay fit so he’s able to do (his) job,” said Stuebe, the mayor of Washougal. “Chuck is relentless and dedicated. He would just keep going no matter what (happens). You can’t knock him down, and that’s what I appreciate about him.”
Stuebe believes Doze’s dedication and physical fitness level will help him recover from life-threatening wounds he recently suffered in the line of duty. Doze, an east Clark County resident and deputy for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon, was released from a Portland hospital Aug. 8, to continue his recovery and rehabilitation at home after sustaining serious injuries during a July 26 shooting in Tualatin, Ore.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigators allege that Kristafer Graves, 34, shot Doze seven times in the head, arms and torso after being served with a court-ordered eviction notice by Doze and two other deputies at Graves’ Tualatin apartment.
“(Officers are) brave, they’re out there every day, and they never know what they’re going to walk into. Something that seems totally routine can just erupt,” Stuebe said. “You don’t know if you’re dealing with (people with) depression or whatever. People take it out on somebody, and it’s a shame that they’re taking it out on the people that are trying to uphold justice. It’s just scary (and indicative) of what’s going on out there.”
Doze suffered broken bones in both of his arms, lost his left eye and lost multiple teeth. He was transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, where he spent 13 days before returning home “with his family by his side and a law enforcement escort,” which included the Camas and Washougal police departments, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
“Chuck’s release from the hospital makes today a day of hope and strengthens us as a family and community,” Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett said. “He is an incredible person. He is a complete professional. He is compassionate. He is also resilient and tenacious.”
Doze acts as a mentor for his fellow gymnasium users, according to Stuebe.
“If you talked to the gym guys, they would be like, ‘He’s the nicest guy. He talks to everybody, supports everybody,’” Stuebe said. “Everybody’s in there working out, and he’s just kind of the motivator. He motivates everybody in the gym, and he’s everybody’s friend. (What happened to him) was tragic because he’s the nicest guy. He’s the guy that you want to come to (your side) if you need help, because he’s there to do the right thing.”
Stuebe said he believes Doze “has a long way to go” in his recovery but is looking forward to visiting him once he settles in.
“Can you imagine being shot twice in the face, missing an eye, missing teeth? It’s going to be a long road to recovery for him,” Stuebe said. “But he’s a fighter. He’s going to come back from this where a lot of people wouldn’t.”
A GoFundMe account established to raise funds for Doze had collected $317,188 as of Monday. The account can be viewed at gofund.me/68545617. Donations also can be made through any U.S. Bank location.
