A Mifflin Township police officer who was shot multiple times nearly a month ago was released from the hospital June 23.
The officer, who has not been identified, was shot multiple times after Daveonte Dixon, 21, fled from him and another officer as the passenger in a vehicle during a May 28 traffic stop. The officer being released had been hospitalized since the shooting.
The officer’s partner was also shot and hospitalized but later released.
A large group of Franklin County law enforcement officers, both on duty and off duty, gathered at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in downtown Columbus to support the officer upon his release, applauding as he exited by wheelchair.
Law enforcement officials have said that the officer released June 23 is looking at a long road to recovery from the gunshot injuries he sustained. Mifflin Township police Chief David Briggs said the officer has at least 20 follow-up appointments. According to Briggs, it is also unclear if the officer will return to duty once he finishes his recovery.
Brian Steel, president of Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, who was off-duty, was among the law enforcement present along with Briggs for the officer’s release.
“This is a family. I’ve said it before, we’re in for a penny, we’re in for a pound. What affects one member affects us all,” Steel said. “This is a great, great day. Our brother is going home. We could not be more excited.”
Media were invited to the release, then asked by the family not to show or blur the officer’s face as he was being released. For that reason, The Dispatch is currently not showing video of his release.
Briggs said he felt “pure joy” as he watched the officer leave the hospital. Briggs also revealed that he has known the officer for 23 years and that the officer was one of his first trainers when he finished the police academy.
When asked about the punishment that will be meted out to Dixon, Briggs said he had faith in the criminal justice system that Dixon would be held accountable.
“Violent offenders shouldn’t be allowed on our streets. I hope (Dixon) gets the punishment he deserves,” said Briggs.
Dixon, who is currently hospitalized from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, has been charged with felonious assault and attempted murder in connection with the shooting. A total of nine suspects have also been charged with obstruction of justice and are accused of helping Dixon elude law enforcement for two days following the shooting, which sparked a massive manhunt. They are all in custody at the Franklin County jail.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Second Mifflin Twp. officer wounded by suspect released from hospital as recovery continues
Reporting by Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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