Thank God for small favors

Da-Law-Dawg

Da-Law-Dawg

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 6, 2008
584
1
53
Russell Springs, KY
#1
As most of you know, I work for a small rural sheriff's dept. in Southern Kentucky. Myself and one other deputy cover third shift seven days a week with little to no help while we are out. I work four thirds while he is off and he covers the other three thirds and a second shift on my "Monday".

We cover roughly 300 square miles within our jurisdiction, and gain, mostly by our lonesome when either he, or I work. I also work part-time as an EMT at our ambulance service.

Last night, while on the tail end of a 24 hour stretch at EMS, the tones dropped and my heart sank. We were dispatched out to the southern end of our county on a shots fired complaint. My colleague and close friend, that was covering thirds while I was off was shot twice at point blank range on a traffic stop.

Thank God he was wearing his vest! As he approached the stopped vehicle (no visible tags), the driver shot him twice in the chest from inside the car. Two of our local PD units had responded and secured the scene just minutes before I pulled up in the ambulance.

My partner was ok, luckily, the vest had done its job and stopped both rounds. The driver fled the scene and units are currently looking for the shooter. Please say a prayer for our guys today as they try and find the shooter.

Edit, link below from local media.......

http://lakercountry.com/2010/05/12/rcso-...aving-his-life/
 
#3
Re: Thank God for small favors

Hats off to you both. Take your buddy out for a cold one as soon as you can! Glad he's doin ok and hope they catch the shooter quick like and in a hurry.

Kelly
 
#6
Re: Thank God for small favors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tucker301</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Glad he's OK.
I hope the shooter is found and given some instant justice. </div></div>

+1
 
#9
Re: Thank God for small favors

Thanks for the kind words guys! Just glad he is OK. He is one of my closest friends and it puts a world of shit in perspective. Coulda been me as easily as him as we are the ONLY two guys covering third shift. Just thankful that he recently got back in the habit of wearing his vest! Again, pray for the guys looking for the shooter. I will be back on duty tonight and I pray we get the person(s) responsible. My partner never saw the shooter, just the muzzle flash from inside the vehicle.
 
#11
Re: Thank God for small favors

Law Dawg, great news your partner is OK. I've witnessed the loss of 2 of our own. One with vest and one without. Take care of each other and most of all take heed at this incident!!

Rural area, night time, 2 deputies only. He's getting out of the car for me!!!

Stay safe bro
 
#12
Re: Thank God for small favors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dagsta</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Law Dawg, great news your partner is OK. I've witnessed the loss of 2 of our own. One with vest and one without. Take care of each other and most of all take heed at this incident!!

Rural area, night time, 2 deputies only. He's getting out of the car for me!!!

Stay safe bro </div></div>

Thanks Dag,

Sorry to hear of your loss, just thankful that my partner is OK. To my knowledge, this is the first officer to have been shot in recent times in our jurisdiction. Puts a new spin on thoughts "on the job" and puts a lotta shit in perspective. He is the father of two girls and I have a set of 11 month old twins. Makes one think!
 
#14
Re: Thank God for small favors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Mechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know he may be physically OK but how is he holding up? That has got to have a serious affect on you. </div></div>

I sat at the E/R with him for some time after we got him there. My wife was working the E/R as well and both of us stayed alongside him off and on,for some time. When I had to leave the E/R for shift change, he was holding up well.....considering the ordeal he'd been thru. When the wife got home, she stated that he had remained in good spirits until his wife got there to pick him up. Gonna keep in close contact with him the next while and keep his spirits up. Just giving him and his family some much needed time alone together.
 
#15
Re: Thank God for small favors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Slapchop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">God bless and stay safe. As you already know, this dude isn't going down without a fight. </div></div>


+ 1

My thought exactly at this point he pretty much has got nothing to lose...Attempted Murder on a police officer...hope this ends with all badges involved safe and ok...my payers out to the hunters!!!

God Bless Him and You...also my prayers to your Buddy and Partner to a speedy recovery to get back in the saddle and to keep doing an awesome job protecting and serving the folks out your way!!


WOW!!!!...what does shock me here.... is that fact there are still Depts. that have an optional vest policy...???



Our policy was simple...if you showed up with out any of your issued equipment i.e.....Vest, Weapon, Extra mags, Baton, Asp, CS, Handheld Radio...ect...ect...you were sent home for the day (minus pay) with a permanent reprimand...the second time you where TERMINATED!!!!
 
#16
Re: Thank God for small favors

Sadly, many small agencies don't provide proper equipment like vests. In fact, some don't issue any equipment... you have what you buy yourself. Some LE employees are paid so badly in some geographic areas that vests are too expensive for them to easily purchase while feeding their family and paying rent.

Fortunately, in our case, we are issued new armor every 5 years.... and we donate the used vests to officers elsewhere who have no means to aquire them. Many went to the New Orleans area and other points in the South after Katrena... along with other replacement gear sent to small agencies.

In fact, if any LEO reading this needs a vest I may be able to find one or two left to donate...
 
#17
Re: Thank God for small favors

Thanks to all for the kind words and prayers.

As an update, I spent about 25-30 minutes on the phone with him last night. Physically, he is fine, "sore and stove-up a bit" as he put it but fine otherwise. During our conversation, it was easy to see that the totallity of the ordeal had set in. We spent a good while talking and in the grand scheme of things, he is fairing well considering what happened.

As for the vest, it was a hand-me-down vest from one of our state troopers in our area. I have said countless prayers, giving thanks that he had the vest and had it on at the time. Our agency does not provide concealable armor for us, same as a lot of agencies in the area. I have my own vest that was purchased out of pocket, small price to pay for the protection it offers. This was a "wake up call" to a lot of the guys around here as I always wear one. I pray officers will take heed to what happened to my partner and follow suit!

Thanks again for all the kind words and prayers!

Here's a link to the interview of my partner on one of the stations in our area......

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/93716069.html
 
#20
Re: Thank God for small favors

Glad he is healthy. We cant lose another officer in KY not after what happened just a week ago. That was horrible.....


What type of vest and what caliber was he hit with?
 
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