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Months later, Yavapai-Apache police sergeant still recovering from shooting: 'I should have died that night'

By
Updated  October 29, 2022 8:09am MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

Long road to recovery: Months later, Yavapai-Apache police sergeant still recovering from shooting

Months after a shooting badly injured a tribal police officer in Arizona, that officer is still recovering, and is set to undergo another surgery in the months ahead. FOX 10's Irene Snyder reports.

PHOENIX - A Yavapai-Apache police sergeant who was shot while on duty in February is still recovering from what happened.

The shooting happened in the Camp Verde area. Once at the scene, a suspect got out of a car, ran away on foot, and began shooting.

The injured officer, identified as Sgt. Preston Brogdon, was listed in critical, but stable condition at one point.

"The bullet went through his belt, then punctured his small intestine, then on the way out, it shattered his pelvis and his hip," Sgt. Brogdon's wife, Bailey Brogdon, said.

Sgt. Brogdon, according to tribal officials, underwent multiple surgeries. He was released from the hospital in April, according to family members.

The suspect in the shooting, identified as 39-year-old Valentin Rodriguez, was later found dead.

Sgt. Brogdon talks about recovery process

Brogdon's family (Bailey Brogdon)

"I should have died that night, but not one time did I think I was going to die," said Sgt. Brogdon, about eight months after the shooting happened.

In the months since the shooting, Sgt. Brogdon underwent extensive physical therapy. While his family thought he would be almost fully healed by this point, he is not.

Sgt. Brogdon said doctors initially gave him six to 12 months for recovery, but a few months ago, he stopped getting better.

"His pelvis is not reforming and coming together the way they hoped that it would, so that kind of – at least it validated where we were at with what we were feeling: this isn't right," said Bailey.

Sgt. Brogdon said that it has been tough for others to see his struggle.

"My oldest [child] will break down, start crying that I got shot," said Sgt. Brogdon.

The pain, for Sgt. Brogdon, is always there, and it could be months before he is ready for another surgery. That surgery will be followed by at least another year of recovery.

"I wouldn't wish this injury or what I'm going through on anyone, not even on the person who shot me. I wouldn't wish this on him," said Sgt. Brogdon. "It's stressful on the family, the kids. I want to be able to play in the yard with my kids. I want to go on calls with the guys. I want to help them."

Family members, however, are taking it day by day, hoping and praying for another miracle.

"It's not all doom and gloom. It's not all sadness," said Bailey. "The lord's really carried us. Answered every prayer."

Support the family's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-yapd-sergeant-preston-brogdon-and-family

Yavapai-Apache officer released from rehab center months after being shot by suspect

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.