What we know about the fatal shooting of an Oakland County sheriff's deputy

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

5 3 minutes read

Oakland County Sheriff's Deputy Bradley Reckling was fatally shot in Detroit while following a lead on a stolen vehicle Saturday evening.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who called the encounter an “ambush,” said Reckling's death has shocked the department and friends and family who now have to deal with his loss.

Here's what we know so far, based on a preliminary investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and the Detroit Police Department, released at a news conference by Bouchard on Sunday.

More: Bradley Reckling, Oakland County deputy, shot and killed in Detroit (freep.com)

Who was Deputy Reckling?

Deputy Bradley Reckling, 30, was an Oakland County Sheriff's Office detective who had recently been transferred to the department's auto theft unit. He had worked for the sheriff's office for nine years.

Outside of work, he was the husband to a loving wife and the father of three daughters, ages 5, 4 and 1, with another baby on the way.

At Sunday's news conference, the commander of the Rochester Hills substation, where Reckling had worked extensively, said Reckling was one of the best deputies and detectives he had ever worked with. He remembered when Reckling was still on patrol in Rochester Hills, before joining the detective bureau, and he had spent hours searching for a vehicle after a theft that many others thought was unsolvable, but Reckling found the vehicle and opened the case wide.

Other accounts from colleagues remembered Reckling as an amazing cop, but also an even better husband, father and friend, who loved spending time in the outdoors fishing, hunting, ranching animals and grow your farm.

What happened to Deputy Reckling?

Reckling was following a lead on a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox that had been reported stolen between 1 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. at Red Oaks Water Park in Madison Heights earlier in the day.

The trail took him and two other detectives to Detroit to search for the Equinox, although the three detectives drove separately, Reckling in an unmarked car, meaning no dashcam footage is available .

Reckling located the Equinox near Schoenherr and Park Grove streets on the city's east side and followed it when the vehicle stopped and at least one of the three individuals got out of the vehicle and started to shoot Reckling. Bouchard said it was an ambush.

“They were doing what they do, being good detectives, chasing down a lead on a car that had recently been stolen and trying to locate it,” Bouchard said at the news conference. “They do this every day, and a lot of times they find an abandoned car and they call a tow truck. It turns out that this situation wasn't that at all.

Reckling was hit in the head, chest and elsewhere in the torso area. The call for an officer shot came in at 10:50 p.m. and shortly after, Detroit police and Michigan State Police formed a perimeter around the area and arrested three suspects.

Reckling was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

And after?

The investigation into the suspects is being led by the Detroit Police Department's Homicide Task Force. The department is asking anyone with information related to the crime to call the Detroit Homicide Task Force at 313-596-2260, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up, or submit a tip on DetroitRewards. TV. If a tip advances the case, the tipster will receive a $5,000 reward. Tipsters should include file number 2406220359.

For now, Bouchard is asking for prayers for Reckling's ministry and family, as well as donations to financially help Reckling's wife and daughters in his absence.

All donations made to the Sheriff's Office charity, Mission Oakland, with the memo “Deputy Reckling” will go to Reckling's family. More information on how to donate can be found on the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

Bouchard also highlighted the need for more resources for law enforcement when it comes to mental health and crisis debriefing, as Reckling's tragic death comes just a week after a gunman opened the fire on families at splash pad in Rochester Hills, injuring nine people, including children, and more. a year after the Michigan State University shooting, two and a half years after the Oxford school shooting and more than six years after another Oakland County sheriff's deputy was deliberately run over and kill.

Who was Deputy Reckling?

What happened to Deputy Reckling?

And after?

Lina Portman

Related Articles

Residents rescued after fire in New London, Connecticut

Judge rejects defendant's amended release request

Georgia Child Trafficking Scandal Unsolved

Man dies in Santa Fe shooting; suspect arrested