WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, police officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.
On Monday, July 15, the Wounded Blue Organization honored Wichita County Sheriff David Duke with a prestigious award.
Hobo Coffee Co. opening under new name, owners Duke was told earlier in the day that he had a meeting to attend that afternoon, but when he walked into the Law Enforcement Center, he was surprised before being presented with the award for leadership by the organization.
“It was a great honor, honestly. Being the first recipient of this leadership award from this organization is monumental to me because I don’t expect things like this,” Duke said. “You know, I’ve always been that guy that wants to help everybody, make sure everybody’s taken care of.”
Duke received this award for going above and beyond when it comes to getting officers the help they need after being injured in the line of duty or suffering from invisible wounds such as PTSD from experiences they’ve had while on duty.
Duke said the members of his team are more than just a number; they’re family, and they should never be forgotten or left behind.
“If somebody gets injured and you have a leader of an organization that just doesn’t want them, he gets rid of them instead of helping them out,” Duke explained. “Put them in a position in that office where they can be a help still while they have a disability. They can still stay on duty, still draw their paycheck, their pension, and do their 20-year retirement or 25-year retirement like everybody else.”
‘We’re preserving history’: Seymour ranchers brand monument for beautification project This award was presented by the Wounded Blue Organization, which specializes in suicide prevention by a highly trained team of peers, as well as offering services that can provide help for several mental health or physical health issues.
For more information on Wounded Blue and how you can help it continue its mission of helping those who protect us every day, visit its website .
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