RivCo honors “Silent Partner” – Deputy Sheriff Edward M. Schrader
RIVERSIDE COUNTY — Today, we remember and honor the passing of Deputy Sheriff Edward M. Schrader, the 29th Peace Officer killed in the line of duty in Riverside County, on July 11, 1974.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at the Ben Clark Training Center is responsible for the county’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy. The Basic Academy is a six-month, high discipline/high stress-oriented program designed to meet the minimum requirements of a peace officer as established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). During the start of our most recent Basic Academy, Class 208 on July 2, 2019, a new program has been adopted known as the Silent Partner Program. The Program modeled after a like program created by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seeks to remember and never forget Riverside County law enforcement officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
At the introduction of the Basic Academy, recruits are provided a card of one of the 66 law enforcement officers from various agencies killed in the line of duty within Riverside County. Each recruit is responsible to learn and be accountable for the information related to the line of duty death of their respective “Silent Partner” which is noted on the specific program card provided. Their memory and the circumstances surrounding their death can provide a Basic Academy recruits with some measure of guidance in their new career and an increased connection with the proud traditions of law enforcement and public service. The goal of the program is to create a meaningful, historical link between future law enforcement officers and those officers who died in the line of duty. By preserving the memory of their Silent Partner, a Basic Academy recruit will be able to establish a lasting connection with the past that will help provide them with a deeper understanding of what it means to be a public servant and law enforcement officer.
The program has already written a telling story because of its’ implementation. During the fourth day of Basic Academy Class 208, the Silent Partner cards were handed out randomly to the recruits during “Leadership, Professionalism & Ethics” classroom instruction. One of the recruits, a Deputy Sheriff Trainee arbitrarily received the Silent Partner card of his great uncle, Deputy Sheriff Edward M. Schrader. This turn of event was a shocking moment for not only the Deputy Sheriff Trainee but the academy staff, as well. This validation of the program shows how the memory of one of Riverside County’s finest will never be forgotten almost 45 years to the week, and what better way to be remembered than by his nephew.
Submitted by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
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Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.