(c) By Wendy Nugent, Harvey County Now
NEWTON—Silas Minkevitch described his late brother, Newton Police Department Sgt. Levi Minkevitch, as being caring and great.
“I would like to share a short story about his amazing character that I witnessed first hand,” he said. “I went on a ride-along with Levi about a year ago because I always wanted to see what Levi did first hand. “
During the ride-along, a call came out over the radio a person was in the police station lobby needing to talk to an officer.
“When we got to the station, we met a man in his mid-30s who was in distress,” Silas said. “His mother had died in Wichita and he was an immigrant from Somalia, and he spoke broken English.”
The man worked in Dodge City and in his distress to get to Wichita, he forgot his documentation and was fearful he wouldn’t be allowed to board the train in Newton to return to Dodge, where he needed to work the next morning.
Levi also learned the man hadn’t eaten for two days since he was upset about losing his mother.
“Levi then verified this man’s identity through NCIC (National Crime Information Center) and printed out a copy of the report for the man to use to be able to board the train to go to Dodge City,” Silas said. “Levi then went and got the man two full-sized pizzas. The man’s eyes teared up. He said he could not believe someone would be so kind.”
Levi’s help didn’t stop there. He gave the man a ride to the train station, telling the man he’d return during the 2 a.m. boarding time to make sure he would be allowed on the train.
“This is just one of the many acts of kindness of the great man that was my older brother,” Silas said. “I am so grateful for his time on earth. How blessed we were to have him in our lives.”
Levi was killed in an ATV accident last week at the age of 30. His death has rocked the Newton community.
Others remembered him, as well.
“He was a top-quality human being,” Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay said. “He was a large man with a big heart and a big smile. One of those guys who has never met a stranger. He had a very warm personality and great sense of humor. All of those positive character traits make for a really great police officer and Levi was one of them.”
Gay said he met Levi when he was one of Levi’s middle school football coaches, when Levi was in the seventh grade. Gay coached defensive and offensive line and Levi played both positions.
“I stayed in touch with him when he was at Newton High School,” Gay said. “He was in my Law Enforcement Related Occupation club. I served with him on the Newton Police Department for a few years before I was elected. Levi was in the category of one of my favorite people.”
When Levi was in high school, Gay said he and a few of his fellow officers used to get together Sunday mornings to practice defensive tactics. Gay used to invite Levi and his brother to work out with them.
“We worked on several techniques with them and would let them challenge each other to a wrestling match before they needed to leave, so they could get to church on time.” Gay said. “It was humorous to watch because they would really get after each other. They were certainly harder on each other than they were on us.”
Gay and former Newton High School Principal Roger Erickson became good friends. Gay recalled he and Erickson had a conversation about how much they enjoyed having the Minkevitch kids at the school.
“We talked about how we wish their parents would have populated the world with more of them because they were such a great family.” Gay said.
Another memory Gay has of Levi was when they both were police officers.
“Levi came to me and asked that I help him propose to his future wife, Logan,” Gay said. “I was humbled and honored he chose me. Levi wanted to get into a patrol car with me, find Logan and I would make a traffic stop on her. We found her and I stopped her. When I approached her car, Levi snuck out of the patrol car and was waiting for her on one knee behind her car. I made up a bogus reason for her to come to the back of her vehicle. Levi proposed to her and she said ‘yes.’”
Austin Prouty, first cousin to Levi on his dad’s side, said the Minkevitch family was his family’s closest neighbors out in the country for most of his childhood.
“I’m an only child, so I spent a lot of time with Levi and his siblings,” Prouty said. “He was a great guy, always strong and reassuring, but also with a high level of compassion and emotional intelligence.
When Prouty was around 9 or 10 years old and Levi was a high school student, Prouty’s dad had both of them work on the family farm. The two spent most of the summer together, riding on the John Deere Gator checking cattle and fences. They also looked out for noxious weeds in the pasture and helped service machinery.
“You probably wouldn’t normally think of a high schooler being so eager to hang out with his much younger cousin, but Levi and I always had a blast,” Prouty said. “He liked to joke around and have fun, but was also always looking out for me, like the older brother I never had.”
Cathy Willis said her family has known Levi since he was in high school, since their kids were friends and hung out together.
“Meeting Levi led to meeting his incredible family.” Willis said. “His parents, Joan and Paul, are ‘salt-of-the-earth’ people—so incredible, as are his brothers and sister. I also had the honor to meet many of his extended family members.”
As a junior in high school, Levi was very respectful, polite and friendly, Willis said, adding he used to call her Mrs. Willis until she said, “It’s Cathy.”
“Not all juniors are near that respectful or have such wonderful manners.” Willis said. “His parents obviously raised him right. While our kids were hanging out, both of their grandparents had major heart surgeries at Wesley; therefore our families were together a lot in the CCU waiting rooms.”
They were able to observe during this time what an awesome family the Minkevitchs are, Willis said.
“So caring, kind and loving.” Willis said. “Their faith was something to marvel at. Levi was an impressive young man. It is no wonder he became a law enforcement officer. He chose to serve the public and become a peacemaker.”
The Willises also know Levi’s wife, Logan, and her family, too. Their kids played sports with the Duerksen children.
“So, knowing what a remarkable young lady Logan was, I am not surprised these two found each other and fell in love,” Willis said. “They were a sweet couple that had so much still to do as a family. I cannot express how heavy my heart is for Logan. Talk about life not being fair —this is the utmost example of that.”
Willis said she is so thankful to have known Levi and his family.
“Logan, having the support of both the Minkevitch and Duerksen families is the only minor consolation I can take away from this horrible tragedy,” Willis said.
Another local person, Newton Fire/EMS Department Chief Steve Roberson, said he got to know Levi through their positions with the city of Newton when they’d see each other at various fire- and EMS-related calls.
“Levi was the kind of person that left a positive impact and impression on anyone he came in contact with,” Roberson said. “I didn’t know him very well, but in the interactions I did have with him, he was always positive, respectful and professional.”
His accomplishments
Levi was a member of the Emergency Response Team. He was hired as a Newton Police officer in 2013 and climbed the ranks, being promoted to corporal and then sergeant. He received a Gold Award for Valor from the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police in 2018 for his actions in responding to a triple homicide just outside Newton.
Final patrol
Funeral services for Sgt. Levi Minkevitch are private; however, the family would like to provide the community an opportunity to pay their respects by lining the processional route during Levi’s final patrol.
The procession will begin near Southeast 14th and Kansas at about 11:45 a.m., Friday, Feb. 26. The procession will continue north to North Main and then east on East Broadway. Community members are invited to line the procession route to show support to Levi, his family and the law enforcement community.
“The Newton Police Department and the entire law enforcement community are sincerely appreciative of the heartfelt support provided by our community,” according to a Facebook past. “Levi was the strength of our department in so many ways and it is obvious by the outpouring of affection and support that he similarly impacted so many in our community. Our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers are continually extended to Levi’s family and friends.”
