Police Investigator Jason Dunn is Distinguished Alumni
An investigator of the Illinois Secretary of State Police will be the guest speaker at the Carrier Mills high school "Wall of Fame" ceremony this year.
The ceremony inducts graduating eighth grade students who have achieved academic excellence in their junior high school years as potential "Wall of Fame" members.
Every year, the high school administration choses a Distinguished Alumni as a guest speaker for the event. This year, Jason Dunn, a 1993 Carrier Mills Graduate has been chosen. Dunn is a local man with strong ties to the community; save for the three years that his job required him to live in the Peoria, Springfield area, Dunn has been a life long resident of the Carrier Mills area.
Dunn is a remarkable individual, after joining the Illinois Secretary of State Police and becoming a member of the personal bodyguard force for the Secretary of State Jessie White in 2005, Dunn volunteered to become a member of the Illinois Secretary of State's Office Bomb Detection Unit in 2012.
"I've always been looking for challenges," Dunn said. "It's a challenge every day and something I really enjoy."
Dunn is assigned to the unit that works the part of the state south of I-80, with specialized explosive handling vehicle pre-stationed in Springfield, Marion and in the MetroEast area. Dunn said his unit responds to about 250 call a year and, as a certified explosive detecting dog handler he has a explosive detecting canine with him at all times.
"We get a lot of calls for the dogs," Dunn said. "Most of the time, it turns out to be a false alarm but we run into the real thing fairly often. A lot of the time it is a service veteran who brought home a memento from the war they served in and their spouse or children find it in their effects after they pass on. They call the local police department and they call us."
The ISOS Explosives Unit is a strictly volunteer force. When asked why he volunteered for this duty, Dunn gave an answer that is a very clear insight into his personality and his commitment to the society his is sworn to protect and serve.
"It's a rewarding job and somebody's got to do it. I thought, 'Why not me?'" he said.
The Wall of Fame Ceremony will be held at the Carrier Mills High School on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The event begins at 7 p.m. All of the members of our community and area are encouraged to come out to honor the inductees and meet Jason Dunn, who truly represents many of the best qualities of our community, society and nation.