Union City Police officer remains hospitalized after shooting, 3 surgeries
ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The police officer injured in a deadly shootout with a suspect in Union City on April 1 remains in the hospital as of Monday afternoon.
According to his wife, Kyla Turner, Officer Jerome Turner Jr. has undergone three surgeries and will have another procedure in the coming days. She said her husband was shot six or seven times during the ordeal.
"The biggest thing for me that I keep telling him and family as well as to just be patient. Just take it one day at a time," Kyla Turner said. "You will be back out there."
Officer Turner has only been with the Union City Police Department since December. He previously served as police chief in Midway, Florida and was reportedly the youngest police chief in the state at the time of his swearing-in in 2013.
Kyla Turner said her husband has handled everything really well and wants to get back on the job as soon as possible.
"He's ready to go back to work right now. If they say he can go home right now, he'll probably be calling the chief right now and saying, 'Hey, Chief, I can come sit to a desk right now and do a little bit of work if you want me to.' That's him, like he's ready to keep moving, can't sit still. He's like just ready to just be back out there with the whole police force just doing what he loves best," Turner said.
She said they are incredibly thankful for all the support they have received.
"We appreciate it so much, so much. I can't even express how much I appreciate it," Turner said.
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson said Monday the shooting remains under investigation.