"We need to stop accepting thoughts and prayers as a substitute for actual investment in saving lives. This officer died trying to protect someone. We owe it to his sacrifice to build a system that works."
— Jennifer Hecker, director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.
If you are domestic violence victim, you can access help, call Options' 24-hour helpline at 1-800-794-4624 or text HOPE to 847411. For more on Options' services, CLICK HERE.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Four police officers have been killed this year in the line of duty in Kansas. Two of those four, including Hays Sgt. Scott Heimann, were killed responding to domestic violence calls.
Early Sunday morning, a woman called 911 and said she had escaped a domestic violence situation.
The woman reported that while she attempted to flee, her significant other, identified as Zane Wickham, 34, of Hays, drove his truck into her vehicle. She ran to a nearby home to call for help, according to the KBI.
When Heimann and officers were trying to set up a perimeter near the backyard of Wickham’s residence in the 2200 block of Downing, a single shot was fired from inside the house, and the round struck Heimann, according to the KBI.
Despite life-saving efforts, the officer died from his injuries.
Tactical teams entered the house and found Wickham deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In 2023, the Hays Police Department and Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services launched a program to try to intervene before domestic violence escalates to the point of severe injury or death.
At that point, the last six murders in Hays were all connected to domestic violence.
Officers were given a lethality survey to ask domestic violence victims, which was supposed to be accompanied by a call to an advocate at Options.
Jennifer Hecker, Options' executive director, said Options has struggled to fully implement the program because of a lack of funding.
Options has made three attempts for state funding and one attempt for federal funding to support a high-risk team coordinator. All four requests have been denied due to a lack of available funding, Hecker said.
Within the last month, Options reassigned its case manager to a position serving as the high-risk team coordinator.
"We made some internal changes to make that a priority despite the lack of funding for it," Hecker said.
She said this is the fourth domestic violence-related murder in Options' service area in a year.
"We are seeing domestic violence homicides rising sharply at a time when funding for advocacy organizations like ours is facing cuts," she said.
Hecker has also been a vocal advocate, calling for reform within our judicial system.
"Domestic violence is not considered a serious crime," she said. "It's not treated as systemic terrorism that domestic violence actually represents.
"Domestic violence isn't less deadly, because it's happening between a husband and wife or two people in a relationship," she said.
She said that with a well-functioning high-risk team, we can prevent these things from happening.
"We can reduce risk," she said. "If we had a full-operational high-risk team, we could intervene before officers walk into death traps," Hecker said.
Hecker, as well as Kati Blackburn of Jana's Campaign, noted that domestic violence does not only affect the two people in the relationship.
In the incident on Sunday, people were evacuated from their homes.
Children who witness abuse can face long-term trauma. Families and friends lose loved ones. Coworkers, neighbors, and bystanders can become unintended victims, Blackburn said in a press release issued Monday.
According to national research, 13.9% of officer-involved shootings occur in response to domestic violence incidents (wcadv.org, 2020). This stark reality underscores the urgent need for prevention strategies and education at every level of the community, the release said.
“Our hearts are with all who have been impacted by the recent incidents here in our home community of Hays,” Blackburn added. “Incidents like this remind us why prevention education is necessary.”
SEE THE FULL JANA'S CAMPAIGN HERE.
Jana's Campaign is an organization that promotes education and prevention of relationship violence. It often focuses on youth and young adult programs.
The program was founded by Christine and Curt Brungardt of Hays after a former boyfriend murdered their daughter.
“We know the devastating impacts of domestic violence fatality as our organization was created as a result of our own family tragedy,” said Curt Brungardt, co-founder of Jana’s Campaign in the press release.
“Every call for help represents not just a private dispute, but a potential life-or-death crisis that can ripple outward and harm innocent people.”
Hecker also sent her condolences to the officer's family, first responders, Hays Police Department and the domestic violence victim.
However, she said condolences are not enough.
"We need to stop accepting thoughts and prayers as a substitute for actual investment in saving lives. This officer died trying to protect someone. We owe it to his sacrifice to build a system that works," Hecker said. ...
"Domestic violence is dangerous. When are we going to do something? What will it take?"
She added, "If I could say one thing to the victim, it would be, 'This is not your fault."
Hecker said Options services are available for anyone who has been affected by this tragedy.
Wickham had a criminal history, according to court records.
He was charged with a count of aggravated battery and three counts of battery in 2011. He pleaded no contest to all four charges, according to court records.
In May 2012, he entered a diversion agreement.
He also entered a diversion agreement for a felony as a juvenile, according to court records.
In 2024, he was arrested on charges of DUI, disorderly conduct, interference with a law enforcement officer and other traffic violations. That case was on appeal as of Sept. 5, according to court records.