Family Of Deputy Shot In The Face Thanks Responding Agencies
Apr 13, 2021, 2:29 PM
Officers patrol the scene where two deputies with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office were injured after exchanging fire with a man on the campus. (Alex Cabrero, KSL TV)
(Alex Cabrero, KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The family of Deputy Joshua Buerke, who was shot in the face outside of the Salt Lake County Jail last weekend, released a statement to thank the numerous first responders who came to his aide.
Buerke, and his partner Deputy Leland Grossett, were patrolling outside the jail Saturday morning when they saw a man on the grassy area of their headquarters. As they approached the man he started shooting.
The deputies returned fire killing the gunman, who was identified as Joshua Michael Johnson, 31.
Deputy Buerke was shot in the cheek and was released from the hospital later the same day.
A statement from the family of Deputy Joshua Buerke injured in the shooting at the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Building on April 10. pic.twitter.com/zFmejdPOyC
— Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office (@SLCOMetroJail) April 13, 2021
Deputy Grossett suffered a gunshot to the eye. He lost the eye during emergency surgery but was well enough to leave the hospital Monday afternoon.
About 100 deputies were there as Deputy Buerke greeted Grossett at the hospital exit and walked with him through the line of deputies to his car.
The Buerke statement read, “Our family is grateful that Josh is here today. We are thankful for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and all their support. They have taken great care of our son and we have seen firsthand that they truly are a family.”
“We want to thank all the agencies that responded to the officer down call, including, UPD, West Valley PD, South Salt Lake Police and Fire, Salt Lake City, and the Intermountain Medical Center Trauma Team,” the statement said.
“We recognize that life was lost in this incident and our hearts go out to the family of that suspect,” the Burke statement said.
