Injured officer offers thanks

Dan Kulin

Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 | 11:12 a.m.

A 27-year-old Metro officer shot six times in early December thanked the community for its support and prayers and said he hopes to be back at work in seven months.

Appearing in a videotaped interview released by Metro Police this morning, Officer Enrique Hernandez, who is married and has an 8-month-old daughter, also said he is looking forward to "carrying my little girl. ... Being able to hold her again by myself."

Hernandez was sitting on a couch in his Las Vegas home and had his right arm in a blue sling in the 5-minute video. Hernandez spoke of his recovery and the support he has received from other officers and the community.

The video was done Thursday as a way to get Hernandez's comments to the media without subjecting the injured officer to numerous interviews, Metro spokesman Jose Montoya said.

Hernandez, who was hired by Metro in January 2002, was shot on Dec. 12 after he pursued a sports utility vehicle near 27th Street and Stewart Avenue because it didn't have a rear license plate.

Police said the driver ignored Hernandez's commands and tried to flee, but crashed his vehicle, jumped out and ran into an apartment building before firing at Hernandez.

Hernandez's bullet-proof vest was hit by three of the bullets. The other bullets hit Hernandez above his knee, in his shoulder and in his arm, Montoya said.

The most serious injury was to Hernandez's arm. While in the hospital Hernandez underwent three surgeries, battled a high fever and lung congestion and was on a ventilator for two days.

An hour after Hernandez was shot, three SWAT officers, identified by police as Darrell Hixson, Dave Reid and Manny Rivera, shot and killed 24-year-old Javier Duarte Chavez after finding him hiding in an air-conditioning duct in a nearby apartment building.

Montoya said "there's no doubt" the offiers killed the man who shot Hernandez.

Police investigated the shooting, and determined the officers' actions were justified, he said.

"He said he wasn't going to come out (and said) he wasn't going to prison. He had the gun to his head and then pointed it at the officers when they shot him," Montoya said.

The three officers were placed on administrative leave while the department reviewed the shooting, and are now back at work, Montoya said.

In the video Hernandez said he was relieved to be home and said his recovery is "coming along slowly but surely."

Hernandez said he is very appreciative of all the support he and his family have received from the community and his fellow officers.

After Hernandez was shot there was a flood of blood donors and people sent cards and money.

"That made me feel great," said Hernandez, who left the hospital Dec. 23. "I didn't know there was that kind of support throughout the police community as well as (with) just average people coming up and donating blood. ...

"(It) fills my heart with joy just to know that so many people wanted to give blood and see my recovery."

The support from the community, Hernandez said, "raised my morale and (got) me out of the hospital very quickly and (got) me home for Christmas."