Friend is seriously wounded!!!

[TANKMGA8]

Well, thanks in part to this forum I made it through this past weekend. On Thursday night one of my academy friends and another officer got into a firefight with a subject. My friend, Eric, was hit three times, once in the vest, once in the leg and he took one through the side where the vest doesn't cover. The other officer, Kim, was hit five times in the leg and pevlic area. One of the shots hit her femoral artery. Both are alive and doing better, thank the Lord. Bad guy took three hits in the chest and expired approx. four hours later on the operating table.

I was very stressed over the last several days. Eric no longer works for the same agency as I do, in fact about all I have heard except for the initial report has been on the news. I was planning on visiting with Eric and his wife when I went on vacation in August, but with the family thing going on in full tilt I put it off. I sure wish I had not done that. I was finally able to get a first hand check up on Eric. He had been on a ventilator for several days and I guess that he was tired of it as he removed the tube that was going down his throat and was speaking with his family, and he has been taken out of ICU.

I just want to let you guys know that I tried some of the things that were suggested here and they do work. I did not know how I was going to handle this, then I thought I would look here for help. And it did help me, so to you guys I say thanks.

Something that has really been a blessing for me is that I can come home and share openly my feelings and what happened with my wife. She will sit and listen to me and she will let me cry, it is amazing what some tears will do. I have already told her what she did to help me, and she knows that I am there for her as well (she is an emergency room nurse at the hospital).

I guess that this has turned into a ramble, but I just wanted everybody to know that you cannot let the stress build up inside you, find a release. I will shut up now, just please accept my thanks for starting this forum on this subject.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ERIC AND KIM, THAT THEY WILL HAVE A FAST AND FULL RECOVERY OF THE MIND AS WELL AS THE BODY.

THANKS AGAIN,

[AuntieDispatche]

And prayers for you too...

Mary

[Bow-n-Arrow]

My Prayers are with ALL of you.

Ps, Harold, when you going to re-join the Mod ranks?

[K9 Police]

Harold, you already know that our prayers our with them and you during this difficult time. We are all brothers out here, we live and die together. It may sound wierd, but I am glad that you were able to cry over the situation. I think crying is one of the best things a person can do to relieve stress over a very emotional situation. My girlfriend has been there for me too during those times, and for that I could not thank her enough.

Hang in there Harold. Let us know if we can do anything.

K9

[DJOHNSON954]

Harold,

I am glad the good guys pulled through! I will be praying for them as well as their families. I am also glad to hear that you are dealing with this stressful situation and have a great support channel! Keep your head up.

[dmclark]

Harold: You're doing all the right things, so keep at it. Hug that wife and take some long walks. Work out and keep that positive mind set. We'll all keep Eric and Kim on our prayers. Hang in there!! Best, DM

[ATF SAC]

We'll keep all of you in our prayers and all those affected. You are outside the ring of most peer support efforts, there but not seen. If your gang has a program, have to feel that a lot of your friend's associates before he moved on are feeling as you do, may want to consider getting together with a peer counselor. You keep an eye on them too. Share the news about how Eric and Kim are doing.

[MacLeod]

Not sure what to say Harold. Just glad your buddy is recovering, that his partner and fellow officers are there day in and day out, doing the toughest job in America. God Bless the uniformed patrol officer.

Your wife sounds like a "keeper". I consider myself very lucky to have a wife that stands behind me without fail.

The Lewis family will be praying for your friends, your wife, and YOU. Please update this thread as often as need be to keep us up to speed on your buddy and his recovery.

[papimike]

GOD BLESS THEM BOTH. THAT'S THE UNLUCKY DRAW IN OUR JOB. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DID WELL THOUGH. I DON'T LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT ANYONE DYING, BUT THEY ARE ALIVE AND THE PERP ISN'T. THEY DID THEIR JOB, THEY MADE IT HOME.

[TANKMGA8]

Thanks everyone, I haven't heard anything different yet, but on Saturday I am going to go see him.

I was really only using this as an example of a stressful situation that some of the things that had been suggested in this forum had helped me with. Kind of like, these things helped me, maybe they will you.

Bowcop, when there is an opening and I get considered. I did finally get the computer fixed, and with a schedule change at work I am more available.

Thanks again everybody,

[ThomasAckerman]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. Thanks for sharing this with us, Harold.

TOM

[DelC]

In the back of our minds, we all know it can happen, but that doesn’t mean we are ready to accept it when it does happen. God Bless those of us that do what we have to do. Hang in there.

[k9cop21811]

I love my job so much I don't find myself needing much outside motivation to come to work and work hard. Nonetheless, stories like that just motivate me that much more.

The fact this board was able to help you, Harold, is just tremendous to me. I'm proud to be part of it. You and your friends are in my prayers.

[TANKMGA8]

Just wanted to post an update,

Eric went home the week of Thanksgiving, Kim I have not heard anything about, but I think that she has been moved out of ICU. The department finally got off it's tail end and got a CIS debreifer to the hospital and he spoke with Eric. I think that Eric is going to be alright with everything that happened, he went home to his wife and son, so things can only get better from there.

Thanks for all the prayers for them and please continue to pray for them, they still face a tough uphill battle getting back to work and all.

[LA Express]

Originally posted by TANKMGA8
I think that Eric is going to be alright...

Thanks for all the prayers for them and please continue to pray for them...

Awesome news, Harold.

And will do...

[will2335]

Harold that is a shame I hope your friend and his partner are ok. Do you have any idea what kind of gun they were shot with? caliber?

[TANKMGA8]

Sorry it took so long to reply...

will2335, all three were shooting Glock .40 cal.

Eric ended up back in the hospital on 12-15-03, his lung collapsed again and he needed surgery. After surgery he was in ICU until 12-28-03, he has now been put back in a private room. He had been sent home only ten days after the shooting on oxygen, then he had to go back. Kim was taken out of ICU on about 12-10-03 and is recovering, I haven't heard if the injury to her leg is going to keep her from still being a cop.

[ThomasAckerman]

Thanks for the update, Harold. We'll keep Eric, Kim and you in our prayers.

TOM