Everything we know after the death of an Oakland County deputy

OAKLAND COUNTY, Michigan. – An Oakland County sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed Saturday night was remembered by his colleagues as a hardworking cop and a devoted father and husband.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard held a press conference on Sunday, June 23 at noon to provide the public with information about the shooting. Bouchard said Deputy Bradley Reckling worked for the auto theft unit and was following a stolen vehicle in Detroit when the suspects opened fire, striking him several times and killing him.

Reckling was one of three deputies in the auto theft unit who were searching for a stolen 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle was stolen between 1 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. from Red Oaks Water Park in Oakland County on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

Bouchard said Reckling was in an unmarked car when he located and began following the stolen vehicle, meaning dash camera footage is not available. Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle stopped suddenly, the people in the stolen vehicle got out and opened fire on Deputy Reckling. He was hit several times, including in the head and torso.

“The car stopped suddenly. Individuals got out of the stolen vehicle and opened fire on our deputy. It was an ambush. This obviously triggered a whole bunch of things. The deputy was hit in the head, chest and torso. At 10:50 p.m., the police officer's call was made. Obviously the Detroit Police and MSP flooded the area very quickly, I want to thank them and commend them for that,” Bouchard said.

The police call came in at 10:50 p.m. Detroit police and Michigan State Police rushed to the scene and established a perimeter. Three people were arrested in this area. Bouchard said more information on the suspects will come from Detroit police.

Bouchard calls for support and funding for mental health

Bouchard called for more resources to help mental health staff.

“Looking at our people and seeing their suffering, it was hard for them. You know, we lost Congressman (Eric) overall, then we had COVID, then we had Oxford, then a lot of the same people went to MSU, and then they were in the wading pool. And now this. And it's a little bit – it's like a boxer – you wonder how many hits they can take and still stand. But the first thing I would say is I'm very proud of our people, the way they stood tall, the way they showed up and continued to do incredible things every day. But we must support them. I said after the water cooler that we need more resources for the community as a whole, mental health resources. But we need it for public safety. Peer-to-peer programs are grossly underfunded across the country. We know that over the last two years the deaths in the line of duty have been terrible, the ambushes have increased, now we have another example. The one thing most people don't realize is that officer-involved suicides exceed line-of-duty deaths for the past two years. The pressure on law enforcement, on public safety in general, is therefore enormous and has harmful consequences. And we need resources.

Bouchard called on government officials to offer more funding to first responders. He called on the County Commission and County Executives Office to have an emergency appropriation to add an additional full-time peer-to-peer person to their staff. He said they currently had one, and the reason was that he had eliminated another position. He said having just one peer-to-peer on staff at the nearly 1,500-person agency means the department is severely under-resourced.

“Every day they are faced with other events. Several deaths in car accidents we have experienced in the last seven days. A child investigation where the child died as a result of child abuse. They see these things every day and you can't ignore them. So we need to provide them with support to help them manage that. So this is what people can do for public safety.

Remembering MP Bradley Reckling

According to Bouchard, Reckling has a pregnant wife, a 1-year-old child, a 4-year-old child and a 5-year-old child.

His family wanted the public to hear from people who worked with Reckling and knew who he was and what he looked like. Reckling had worked extensively at the Rochester Hills substation and had just joined the auto theft unit.

At the press conference, Bouchard read the following statements from Reckling's colleagues:

Rochester Hills Substation Commander: “Detective Brad Reckling was one of the best deputies and detectives I have ever worked with. He was one of the hardest-working cops I knew. He will be greatly missed by us and many others. He personally touched so many people with his larger than life personality. Brad was on patrol in Rochester Hills before he came to our detective bureau there and there was a bank robbery that some people thought was unsolvable. Brad spent hours researching the vehicle and eventually found it for sale on Facebook Marketplace and ended up opening the deal. And that was just one example of Brad's work ethic.

Deputy Nicolas Bohun: “Brad was always there to lend a hand. He loved his family more than anything. He was a great cop, but an even better friend, father and husband.

MP Nathan Rogers: Brad and I grew up together in this department. From working in prison to studying for promotions to enduring and graduating from the academy together. Brad was one of the most selfless colleagues and devoted husbands I have ever seen to Jackie and the best father to his daughters. There's no other way to describe it than just being the best person.

MP Matthew Morrison: Brad was a wonderful husband, father and friend. He loved the outdoors. He was an extraordinary fisherman, loved hunting, expanding his farm and raising animals. Brad spent several months renovating his home, giving his wife and three daughters the best place to live. Anyone who has known Brad knows that it doesn't take long for him to start cracking jokes and making him laugh. He was a hard worker and a wonderful friend who would do anything for anyone. He was a great example of what a good parent, husband and friend means, and he is loved by many and will be truly missed.

Bouchard said anyone who wants to support Reckling's family at this time can contribute to the charity Mission Oakland. He said 100% of donations will go to the family without any fees or deductions. People wishing to donate should indicate in a note that the money is for Congressman Reckling.