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Off-duty officer shooting in Cookeville on investigation
The Associated Press
Volume 89 Number 39
Tuesday, March 05, 2002
COOKEVILLE - Two police officers were on administrative leave with pay Monday after one officer allegedly shot the other in the front yard of his home following a party.
Officer Brad Sperry, 30, told authorities he was shot in the neck by officer Zac Birdwell, 28, early Sunday morning. Sperry remained hospitalized Monday, but he was expected to make a full recovery, Police Chief Bob Terry said.
"We are really embarrassed by this because we know the conduct of police officers is held to a higher standard, and we do hold ourselves to that standard," Terry said.
The men, who were off duty, had returned to Birdwell's home following a party Saturday night at the home of a fellow officer, police sources told the Cookeville Herald-Citizen newspaper.
The officers got into an argument about 2:40 a.m. Sunday in Birdwell's front yard and Birdwell allegedly pulled out his .38 pistol and shot Sperry, the newspaper reported. The reason for the argument was not known.
Sperry then apparently ran about a half-mile to a convenience store, where he asked for help. Someone there called 911, and a fellow officer arrived and took Sperry to the hospital.
Later Sunday morning, Birdwell - accompanied by his brother, an attorney - was interviewed by an agent with the Tennessee Bureau Investigation, which is investigating the shooting.
Birdwell, a five-year veteran of the Cookeville police force, was placed on administrative leave; his police badge, service weapons and squad car were confiscated.
http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/article.php/5544
The Associated Press
Volume 89 Number 39
Tuesday, March 05, 2002
COOKEVILLE - Two police officers were on administrative leave with pay Monday after one officer allegedly shot the other in the front yard of his home following a party.
Officer Brad Sperry, 30, told authorities he was shot in the neck by officer Zac Birdwell, 28, early Sunday morning. Sperry remained hospitalized Monday, but he was expected to make a full recovery, Police Chief Bob Terry said.
"We are really embarrassed by this because we know the conduct of police officers is held to a higher standard, and we do hold ourselves to that standard," Terry said.
The men, who were off duty, had returned to Birdwell's home following a party Saturday night at the home of a fellow officer, police sources told the Cookeville Herald-Citizen newspaper.
The officers got into an argument about 2:40 a.m. Sunday in Birdwell's front yard and Birdwell allegedly pulled out his .38 pistol and shot Sperry, the newspaper reported. The reason for the argument was not known.
Sperry then apparently ran about a half-mile to a convenience store, where he asked for help. Someone there called 911, and a fellow officer arrived and took Sperry to the hospital.
Later Sunday morning, Birdwell - accompanied by his brother, an attorney - was interviewed by an agent with the Tennessee Bureau Investigation, which is investigating the shooting.
Birdwell, a five-year veteran of the Cookeville police force, was placed on administrative leave; his police badge, service weapons and squad car were confiscated.
http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/article.php/5544
