Published: November 03, 2009 09:57 pm      

Wounded Jeffersonville Police Department officers back at work

Broady, Lawhorn doing office work for now

Patrolman Keith Broady and Cpl. Dan Lawhorn — two Jeffersonville Police Department officers shot in the line of duty in February — returned to work this week.

Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan confirmed that they’re both on light duty — performing tasks around the police station, not patrolling the streets.

“We’re just glad to have them back. It’s been a long hard road,” he said.

An attempt to reach the officers and Police Chief Tim Deeringer for an interview was unsuccessful Tuesday. However, city Communications Director Larry Thomas said a press release containing comments from them could be forthcoming this week.

Broady and Lawhorn were shot Feb. 20 while responding to a call regarding suspicious activity at Jeffersonville’s Motel 6.

Broady was shot in the chest — outside of his protective vest — and sustained damage to vital organs. Lawhorn was shot in an artery in the leg, losing so much blood that he nearly died at the scene.

They spent weeks in the hospital after the incident. The community rallied around the officers, raising money, sending well wishes and performing chores and home-renovation projects.

Galligan said Tuesday that he was unsure on how long the pair would be working around the office.

However, he’s hopeful they will soon be back on the streets because “they’re both good officers.”



THOSE INVOLVED

The officers’ alleged shooter, 37-year-old Robert Datillo, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a manhunt and an hours-long standoff with police at a south Louisville home.

Datillo had been on the lam, so he had 19-year-old Kyle Bieber rent him the Motel 6 room.

In July, Bieber got a year sentence after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal and unrelated receiving stolen property and burglary charges. However, he was released in August based on time served and credit for good time.

Vincent Windell, the man charged with purchasing the gun used to shoot the officers, will appear before U.S. District Court Judge David Frank Hamilton at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at the federal courthouse in New Albany.

He’s expected to plead guilty to unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon. The judge could sentence him to as much as 37 months in prison.