Sheriff reflects on job of wounded deputy

A captain held on to her deputy as medics took him into the hospital. The sign of support after he risked his life protecting the community.

"We are very fortunate in this incident that the deputy received injuries, but he is going to survive those injuries and we are very happy about that," Jeff Easter, Sedgwick County Sheriff, said.

The Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy, who Easter chose not to name, was shot while attempting to stop two criminals driving recklessly at speeds topping 120 mph.

"He is doing fine," Easter said. "He was upgraded to stable condition. Without going into the extent of his injuries, he could be released today. It is still questionable on his eyesight."

Shotgun pellets hit the deputy's right eye and struck multiple places on the right side of his body. Knocked to the ground, he radioed to his fellow officers for help.

"It does not matter if you are new or if you have been around for years, your thoughts go toward that deputy and you want to make sure that deputy is safe," Easter said. "Your thoughts go toward that family."

Easter said the deputy remained calm throughout the chase. He pursued the suspects for 27 miles on his own.

"He will be off with pay until he recovers from his injuries," Easter said. "Once he recovers, there is a process put in place to make sure that they are fine and then if he is able to return to duty, which we hope he is able to, then he will be placed back on duty."

The deputy joined the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office five years ago and became a K-9 officer in 2011. His K-9 partner was in the cruiser when the deputy went down. Easter says the deputy may need another surgery.