SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita police officer who was shot in the line of duty June 19 was released from the hospital and transferred to a rehab facility on Monday, according to Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.
"The outpouring of community support for this hero has been overwhelming, and we're very thankful for the progress he's made in his recovery so far," Ramsay wrote on social media. The injured officer is a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department. Authorities have not released his name.
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Just after 10:15p.m. June 19, police were dispatched to check welfare of a 32-year-0ld woman at a home in the 500 Block of West Carlyle in Wichita, according to Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido. Officers received information that the woman could be in danger. It was reported she was yelling for help and her 13-year-old daughter was scared.
Upon arrival, the woman told police of physical disturbance between her and her boyfriend identified as 28-year-old Tyler Hodge. She believed he had left.
Hodge's vehicle was at the home and police began checking the home and property to make sure the woman and her daughter were safe.
During their search, offices found Hodge hiding in a shed on the back of the property. He was armed with a rifle and ran toward the officers and fired the rifle multiple times, according to Salcido.
The officers took cover and called other officers to assist. As they arrived, Hodge continued shooting at those officers arriving to assist. One Wichita officer was hit multiple times. The injured officer returned fire and other officers were able to pull him to safety, began life-saving measures, placed him in a police vehicle and transported him to a hospital where he is listed in critical condition but was making improvement on Sunday afternoon, according to Salcido.
Hodge continued shooting at police and moved to the front of the home where an officer shot him. Officers moved the suspect to a safe location and began life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, Hodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Salcido.
Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire. Later, investigators found a loaded handgun in the detached shed where Hodge had been hiding, according to Salcido.
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid leave, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.
The injured officer is a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department.