A two-year veteran of Ashwaubenon Public Safety continued recovering Monday after being hit by an alleged drunk driver over the weekend.
Officer Brian Murphy was outside his vehicle on I-41 Saturday night near the Waube Lane ramp when a 28-year-old Greenleaf woman struck him with her car, police said.
"He's in bad shape," according to Capt. Jody Crocker with Ashwaubenon Public Safety.
Officer Murphy was helping to divert traffic at the scene of a vehicle fire. He was wearing his reflective safety vest, had his emergency lights on and flares on the roadway when he was hit, Capt. Crocker said.
Around 11:25 p.m., dispatch received a call of an officer hit on I-41. The dispatcher did a radio status test and did not hear back from Officer Murphy, police said. That's when his fellow officers started looking and found him on the side of the road shortly after and started life-saving treatment.
"We're used to treating people in the public, but I think when you're treating one of your own, it takes on a whole new light," Capt. Crocker said.
He was taken to the hospital and underwent life-saving surgery. He had another surgery Sunday, Capt. Crocker said. He is in critical but stable condition.
"We have a driver that caused this that made some very poor decisions that evening," said Chief Eric Dunning with Ashwaubenon Public Safety.
The Wisconsin State Patrol and Brown County Sheriff's Office are still working on reconstructing the crash to determine exactly what happened.
The department has received an outpouring of support from law enforcement agencies across the state, as well as the community, and thanks everyone who has reached out.
Officer Murphy's family has requested privacy during this time.
