The pursuit was on! Deputy Z and his new recruit were on the chase. Undercover officers had just bought an illegal weapon from a suspect, and Deputy Z was asked to stop the car so the undercover officers would not be discovered.
As the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspect decided to flee. With the recruit in the driver’s seat, it was decided the best course of action would be to “PIT” the vehicle. PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) involves the patrol car tapping the back bumper of the fleeing vehicle, forcing the suspect’s car to spin around nearly 180 degrees. The vehicle moves backward against the transmission’s forward motion, causing the engine to stall.
It worked! The suspect’s car spun around and stalled out.
Unfortunately, the patrol car rolled over six times, with Deputy Z hitting his head several times as it rolled. In spite of side airbags providing some cushioning, he still had a serious concussion and a traumatic brain injury. He spent months with severe headaches and loss of memory, seeing specialists just hoping to get back to normal. Finally, he was cleared to go back to work.
My name is Chris Green (Navigators First Responders ministry) and I regularly meet with first responders to support and encourage them in their faith. Once I heard about the Deputy’s accident, I followed up with him to have lunch and see how he was doing. Deputy Z was ready to get back on patrol, but something new came up in their conversation. He wanted to begin talking about God with his fellow officers, and he was eager to learn how to start these conversations in a meaningful way with his co-workers.
We were able to talk about the importance of Christ, and the need for police officers to bring the gospel to their fellow officers through conversations in daily life. Deputy Z is now meeting every week, learning to share the hope of God’s salvation and love to his fellow co-workers.
This was a new step of faith for Deputy Z and a hope-filled conversation for all those working in the daily stress of law enforcement. No one ever knows what will happen on any particular day on patrol—and every person needs a chance to hear and respond to the Good News!
For more information about the Navigators First Responder ministry visit: https://www.navigators.org/ministry/navigators-responder
Thank you for this story, I have been having neck pain and the injuries officer Z suffered made me think of what I could do to profess the Lord in my pain instead of dwelling on it. Our God is a great healer
I will pray for Him and thank him for overcoming and reaching people who need the Lord
God is able to use any situation to bring people to Christ and also to bring glory to His name.
Praise God for His wonderful works of kindness.
Praise be to the Lord through the working of the Holy Spirit in Officer Z’s life!
GOD OFTEN USES ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES TO DRAW US TO HIM.. TRUST THE OFFICER IS WELL NOW.
This is a great story. God Bless Deputy Z and we need more stories like this. Thanks
Praise God for blessing you to be able to spread the word of God to your coworkers!!!
Thank you for the work you do! I hope Officer Z has a full recovery and his story will help many people to come to know the Lord!