'My Heart Is Broken': El Paso County Sheriff Remembers Deputy Killed
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder responded to the deadly shooting of one of his deputies less than one day earlier.
"A brave, honorable young man has been taken in a senseless act of violence," said Elder at a news conference on Tuesday morning.
El Paso County Sheriff's Deputy Micah Flick was shot and killed while responding to a motor vehicle theft on Monday afternoon.
Flick leaves behind a wife and twin 7-year-olds, a boy and a girl.
"It's heartbreaking to have a mom and a wife explain to the children that dad's been killed and he's now with Jesus. How do you do that? Deputy Flick is the age of my two sons and I don't know how you deal with that as a parent," said Elder.
Two other sheriff's deputies were injured in the shooting along with a Colorado Springs police officer.
Deputies Scott Stone and Jake Abendschan were both injured by gunfire. Stone was in stable condition on Tuesday morning and Abendschan was treated and released from the hospital Monday night.
The suspected gunman was shot and killed. That suspect had not been identified on Tuesday afternoon.
The Colorado Springs Police Department is the lead organization in the investigation into the deadly shooting.
Flick is the third deputy to be shot and killed in the line of duty in the past five weeks. He was wearing a bullet-proof vest at the time he was shot.
"My heart is broken," said Elder.
He said that this was his greatest fear as he took on the role of Sheriff of El Paso County, "My fear was losing a member of this family to tragedy in the line of duty."
Monday was Flick's 11th anniversary of serving with the sheriff's office. A memorial to Flick is growing outside the El Paso County Sheriff's Office where his cruiser is parked. People are leaving flowers, balloons and messages of support for the sheriff's office.
"I also want the community to know that this is a strong agency, that the brave men and women of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office will continue to serve this community," said Elder.
Officials say funeral arrangments for Flick will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at New Life Church at 11025 Vayager Parkway in Colorado Springs.
A donation site has been established for Flick's family online or in person: The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Foundation, 1980 Dominion Way, Ste. 200. Colorado Springs, CO 80918.
