PACA Proof

"Tucson Police Officer Michael Dowling #39614 was shot by a bank robbery suspect who was attempting to flee from police after the committing the robbery. Fortunately, Officer Dowling was wearing PACA Model GK II Body Armor at the time of the shooting and the .357 bullet did not penetrate the front panel of the vest. Although Officer Dowling received some trauma as a result of the gunshot, he will be returning to his normal patrol duties within a few weeks. The performance of the PACA product worn by Officer Dowling exceeded our expectations and was instrumental in insuring his safety."

BUCKHORN, Mo. -- Blood spatter on the ground and shattered glass left investigators with a lot to piece together. A 14-hour standoff ended early Friday when law officers found the body of a man who they believe shot a Pulaski County sheriff's deputy on Thursday afternoon.

"We never made contact with him throughout the night," said Sheriff J.B. King.

Dozens of officers set up a perimeter around the house on Suture Drive west of Waynesville where the man ambushed two deputies who were investigating a report of an intruder. Negotiators tried to talk to the shooter with a telephone and a bullhorn.

The standoff started around 4 p.m. Thursday when the deputies responded to a burglar alarm at the home. Before the men reached the front door, they found out the 42-year old intruder was armed and angry.

The burglar shot through a glass door, hitting one of the deputies. That's when the second deputy ran around the house and returned gunfire. Officers were unsure whether the bullets that broke the window hit the intruder. They spent the night trying to lure him out.

"Since we had no response to the massive amount of tear gas we put in there, our fear was that he had left," said King, "so we changed our game plan somewhat."

The new plan included new technology. It allowed officers to see that the intruder was in the house and lifeless.

"There's no blood behind the windows; there's no sign of trauma around the windows that would indicate the officer's round struck the suspect," said King. "It is probably a self-inflicted wound but until we have an autopsy we don't know."

That autopsy is scheduled for Saturday in Springfield by a private forensics company.

Cpl. Rex Larson, the injured Pulaski County sheriff's deputy, had surgery at a hospital in Springfield on Thursday night. The sheriff reported Friday afternoon that Larson was out of intensive care. Two blasts from a .20-gauge shotgun hit him in the shoulder and head. According to family members, his wounds are not life threatening but are serious and will require extensive treatment, King said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting at King's request.

The Protective Armor Corporation of America, or PACA, made the donation in memory of one school security officer who worked without protection.

On Halloween night, Russell Kocur was working security at Halls High School when a Virginia man allegedly shot and killed him.

"He was a special person. I never saw the man without a smile on his face. He always had his hand out to help somebody," said Farragut High School Security Officer Eddie Phillips.

Now, in a way, he has a hand in making sure his former co-workers stay safe.

Jacksboro company PACA is giving the 29 Knox County school security officers their own protective vests, fitted just for them, all in memory of Kocur.

"The children were very upset, and some of them knew Mr. Kocur personally, and he had helped them throughout the years. So it was that in addition to the fact that Mr. Kocur's personality as just an outstanding guy helped us make that decision," said PACA president Patricia Lennex.

"My vest is three years out of date and the warranty's up on it, and they're just too expensive, we can't afford them as a small department," said Phillips.

That is why the donation was so important.

"It kind of sets our families' mind at ease that they know more than likely we'll be home every night now. It's definitely going to make my wife and kids feel a lot better," said Phillips.

"And we thank PACA with all of our hearts for them," said Phillips.

School officials say this is just the beginning of a program to require body armor for all school security officers in Knox County.

News
Herryn Herzog , Reporter
Last updated: 12/14/2006 9:07:34 PM
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