'The calling is still there': Arizona sergeant recovering after being shot in Camp Verde

Yavapai-Apache officer wounded in line of duty speaks out about recovery

A tribal police officer is continuing to recover more than two months after being shot in the line of duty. Sergeant Preston Brogdon talked about his injury, recovery and future. FOX 10's Brian Webb reports.

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. - A tribal police officer continues to make progress in his recovery more than two months after being shot in the line of duty near Camp Verde.

32-year-old Yavapai-Apache Police Sgt. Preston Brogdon suffered major injuries to his hip and pelvis while responding to a shots fired call back in February.

Brogdon has undergone three surgical procedures.

In Camp Verde the morning of April 19, he spoke about his physical therapy and how he still struggles with pain.

"I'm not used to being broken," Brogdon said. "I'm used to getting up and kind of dusting myself off and move to the next thing and I can't."

As far as returning to work, Brogdon says his wife will want to talk him out of it, and his 6-year-old daughter wants him to retire.

"I got driven here by my chief of police and seeing him driving and listening to the radio, it's still in my heart. I don't know if I'll be allowed to do it, whether that's you know, talking with my wife about it, or whether God just tells me your body is not going to let you. I would still want to. It's still there for me and the calling is still there," he said.

Sgt. Brogdon was released from a rehab center last week in Chandler. He has served on his force for the past five years. The suspect who wounded him was found dead last month.

"He is the leader of our family. He is the head of our household. Nothing runs smoothly without him, so I'm very grateful he's here," said his wife, Bailey Brogdon. "It means the world that one, he's back home here with us, and two, is that he's pressing on and not giving up."

No matter what the future holds for the sergeant, he says he could not have made it without the support of the community and his family - something that encourages him to fight through the pain every single day.

"Can't give in to that, you know, that little devil on your shoulder that's telling you, 'Just lay there, don't do nothing, it's alright,'" he said. "I'm not going to do that, I just won't. So the rock is my kids and my wife."

Arizona officer out of ICU after being shot in Camp Verde

Authorities with the Yavapai-Apache Nation have given an update on a tribal police officer who was seriously hurt following a shooting on Feb. 9.

Arizona police officer, his wife thank community for endless support after he was badly injured in the line of duty

On April 12, Sgt. Brogdon was released from the rehab facility, as his brothers and sisters in blue from other Arizona law enforcement agencies lined the hallways, showing their support for him as he made his way to the car for his caravan home.