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Man Sentenced To 40 Years For Shooting Loveland Police Officer

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4)- The man who admitted to shooting a Loveland Police officer with a shotgun was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Wednesday.

Cody Powell pleaded guilty in September to attempted first-degree murder charges.

Powell shot Loveland police officer Garret Osilka on March 4. Osilka, 36, survived because his bullet-proof vest took most of the damage. He returned fire as Powell fled.

Officer Garret Osilka
Officer Garret Osilka (credit: Loveland Police Department)

The blast was still strong enough to puncture Osilka's chest, break ribs and collapse a lung.

The attempted first-degree murder charge carried a sentence range of 16 to 48 years in prison.

In court, Osilka asked the judge not to let the fact that he survived less his shooter's punishment.

Powell, Cody
Cody Powell (credit: Loveland Police Department)

The Larimer County District Attorney asked for the maximum.

Powell said that he was high and drunk and never meant to hurt anyone.

In making his decision, Judge Howard said he considered Powell's troubled past and surviving abuse but also that Powell's crime was an act on all police officers.

"It's a difficult job. We rely on justice to support us. I don't think that happened today and I think that will have a negative impact on our agency and the way that people feel about doing the job and I'm sad about that," said Loveland Police Chief Luke Hecker.

Powell originally pleaded not guilty on Sept. 4 but later changed his plea.

Osilka has returned to the police force.

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