A police officer is never really safe, never really "off duty," and this is true even at his own home. This morning Sergeant Craig Hutchinson, Travis County Sheriff's Office, had survived his shift and had survived the trip home. He had just parked outside his home when he saw several persons running from the back of his house. The officer radioed for assistance, said that he was pursuing, and was not heard from again.
It is believed that the first assisting officers arrived at the home approximately ten minutes after Sergeant Hutchinson made contact with his dispatcher. Responding officers found the lawman in his back yard, fatally wounded. No suspects were seen in the area.
The investigation into Sergeant Hutchinson's death is not complete, with many questions remaining. The first question that comes to mind, in today's militant climate, is was this really a burglary, or was the Sergeant lured out into the darkness with the intent that a hidden person might shoot him? Over the years I have known two other officers who were ambushed at their own homes, so it could just as likely be a planned ambush as a botched burglary. I hope this and other questions will be answered soon, and the perpetrators captured quickly.
Sergeant Hutchinson was a training officer for "new" patrol deputies; in fact, one of his former trainees was one of the first deputies to arrive. He was devastated to find his former mentor laying in the grass, barely hanging on to life. Sergeant Hutchinson passed away in a nearby hospital.
This good man was only two months away from retiring as a 32-year veteran of the Travis Count Sheriff's Office, so this is even more tragic. The lawman is survived by his wife who has now been deprived of several good years with her husband finally being able to spend his days with her instead of taking care of you and me. That is so tragic, but the outright murder of a police officer is tragic in itself, regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
Rewards are being offered now as various agencies began a cooperative investigation. The response from Sergeant Hutchinson's neighbors has been tremendous, and very encouraging to grieving officers. Neighbors brought food and water to investigating officers as the hours dragged on, and some neighbors stood in their yards holding flags and even hugging the police officers.
May God HIMSELF speed this investigation...but if the murderers are not located by human means, I pray that God HIMSELF mete out the justice appropriate to this cowardly crime.
I pray that the Good Shepherd comfort the men and women of Law Enforcement as they go about this investigation and as they go about their regular patrol and other functions, in spite of the danger that they must daily face. I pray for this family and especially for the wife left behind, who probably is only just beginning to feel the full shock and pain of the loss of her husband.
May God protect our officers
And may God Bless America
It is believed that the first assisting officers arrived at the home approximately ten minutes after Sergeant Hutchinson made contact with his dispatcher. Responding officers found the lawman in his back yard, fatally wounded. No suspects were seen in the area.
The investigation into Sergeant Hutchinson's death is not complete, with many questions remaining. The first question that comes to mind, in today's militant climate, is was this really a burglary, or was the Sergeant lured out into the darkness with the intent that a hidden person might shoot him? Over the years I have known two other officers who were ambushed at their own homes, so it could just as likely be a planned ambush as a botched burglary. I hope this and other questions will be answered soon, and the perpetrators captured quickly.
Sergeant Hutchinson was a training officer for "new" patrol deputies; in fact, one of his former trainees was one of the first deputies to arrive. He was devastated to find his former mentor laying in the grass, barely hanging on to life. Sergeant Hutchinson passed away in a nearby hospital.
This good man was only two months away from retiring as a 32-year veteran of the Travis Count Sheriff's Office, so this is even more tragic. The lawman is survived by his wife who has now been deprived of several good years with her husband finally being able to spend his days with her instead of taking care of you and me. That is so tragic, but the outright murder of a police officer is tragic in itself, regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
Rewards are being offered now as various agencies began a cooperative investigation. The response from Sergeant Hutchinson's neighbors has been tremendous, and very encouraging to grieving officers. Neighbors brought food and water to investigating officers as the hours dragged on, and some neighbors stood in their yards holding flags and even hugging the police officers.
May God HIMSELF speed this investigation...but if the murderers are not located by human means, I pray that God HIMSELF mete out the justice appropriate to this cowardly crime.
I pray that the Good Shepherd comfort the men and women of Law Enforcement as they go about this investigation and as they go about their regular patrol and other functions, in spite of the danger that they must daily face. I pray for this family and especially for the wife left behind, who probably is only just beginning to feel the full shock and pain of the loss of her husband.
May God protect our officers
And may God Bless America
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