Coping With The Dangers Of Law Enforcement

Guntersville Police Officer Jason Austin was shot in the line of duty Monday night.

Remarkably, even after suffering a shot to head, he is out of the hospital and said to be doing fine, but according to officials, part of the bullet that grazed his head is embedded behind his left ear.

Only centimeters could have made a life or death difference.

Now Guntersville police are coping with what could have been the death of a fellow officer.

The officers say they understand the dangers of their job, but when a brother of sorts comes so close to death it can take an emotional toll.

Fellow officer, Deputy Chief Thomas Bearden said, “it’s real emotional like I spoke to one of the Captains and he said the first thing he did was sent the Lord up a prayer.”

According to Bearden that prayer must have worked because Officer Austin is out of the hospital despite having a piece of the bullet still embedded in his head.

“We hope for the best and we feel that last night the Lord was riding with Jason when this occurred.  It’s this faith that helps a lot of the guys, that’s how we deal with it,” said Bearden.

Bearden expects that Officer Austin will continue enforcing the law, despite being shot in the line of duty.

“He’s taking it well.  Like I said, in our training and stuff we hope that something like this never happens but in the back of your mind as a police officer it’s always got to be there, that it could happen,” said Bearden.

Deputy Chief Bearden said that each of the 42 officers at the Guntersville Police Department train for the dangers of their job but anytime a fellow officer is injured they take a moment to reflect.

“Being a brother ship your heart goes out to him and your heart goes out to the family and we just hope that he’ll recover and we believe he will,” said Bearden.

Officials say that the bullet fragment will be removed in a few weeks when the swelling has reduced.

Fellow officers hope, and expect, everything to go well with Officer Austin’s surgery.

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