Police Officer Accidentally Shoots Police Chief

An accidental shooting has rocked the small town of Robins, just north of Cedar Rapids. At three o'clock Sunday afternoon, 56 year-old Robins Police Chief Lyle Rusk was shot in the neck by one of his fellow police officers.

According to the Linn County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the accident, Robins Police Sergeant Carol Currans was handling a nine millimeter handgun at Robins City Hall. Investigators said the gun accidentally discharged, and hit Police Chief Lyle Rusk in the neck.

Linn County Sheriff's investigators say Carol Currans called 911 herself after she accidentally shot Rusk. Investigators say the two were the only people in city hall at the time. Linn County Sheriff's Department Captain Brian Gardner says there appears to be no sign of foul play. "The information we received is that it was an accidental shooting at this location."

Gardner said Rusk was conscious and alert after he was shot and he was able to communicate with his rescuers. Rescue workers airlifted the injured law officer to St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids and then to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Neighbors in the small town are concerned for the life of their police chief. "He's a good guy," said neighbor Dan French. "You couldn't ask for anybody better, he's our favorite cop in town."

Marie Maxfield added, "Most of your law people are good people but I think he really had feelings for the people he worked with and for."

The sheriff's department says Rusk underwent surgery Sunday night. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics isn't releasing any information on his condition.

The Linn County Sheriff's Department released 911 audio tape from the day a Robins police officer shot Chief Lyle Rusk in the neck. Rusk remains hospitalized, and Officer Carol Currans remains administrative leave after what's being called an accidental shooting.

The ten minutes of tape don't reveal specific details about what led to the shooting inside the Robins Police Station. However, the two phone calls do tell us about the emotion of the moment, and about the friendship of the chief and Officer Currans.

Dispatch: 'Linn County Sheriffs, 9-1-1.'

Currans: 'Get somebody out to Robins Police immediately.'

Dispatch: 'What's the matter?'

Currans: 'And rescue quick.'

Dispatch: 'What the matter?'

Currans: 'Lyle's been shot.'

After being shot in the neck chief rusk is hard to understand, but makes what sound like final requests.

Rusk: 'Tell Sharon I love her.'

Currans: 'I will tell her. Lyle, I love you, Please forgive me.'

Some how the phone gets disconnected and Currans calls back.

Dispatch: '9-1-1 Linn County Emergency.'

Currans: 'Is help coming?'

Dispatch: 'Ok, Ok, who was shot honey?'

Currans: 'Lyle shot, this is Carol. It's an accident, he's been shot in the neck.'

Dispatch: 'Lyle Rusk?'

That when dispatch realizes it's Robins Police Chief Lyle Rusk. About four minutes after the call came in, paramedics arrive at the Robins Police Station.

Currans: 'Help us please.'

During the recording, Rusk requests the lord's prayer. A group of people pray with him and a paramedic gives him comfort.

Paramedic: 'Lyle, we're going to get through this, you're doing fine.'

Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller says Currans and Rusk have been good friends and worked together for 25 years. Zeller continues to call this an accidental shooting and says investigators are just waiting for Rusk to recover so they can talk to him and get his side of the story. He says they believe his story will match up with Currans.

All of this is pretty hard for people to take in. Especially in a small, quiet town like Robins. People here say both Rusk and Currans are well liked and respected. Don Whitford of Robins says, "What a thing to happen to a good guy like Lyle, you know?" While Greg Hopper from Robins says, "Accidents do happen...In this society, we don't tend to think that way but I feel bad for her...I feel worse for the guy she shot."

Rusk's family is not releasing any specific information about the Chief's condition. However, a statement issued yesterday does say they expect his recovery to be long and that he's maintaining his sense of humor, despite the challenges ahead.

Investigators said the gun accidentally discharged,

Translation: The doofus pulled the trigger.

Investigators say the two were the only people in city hall at the time.

You've got to be pretty unlucky to have an accidental discharge and manage to hit the ONLY other person in the entire building...

Marie Maxfield added, "Most of your law people are good people but I think he really had feelings for the people he worked with and for."

I suspect the feelings he has for Currans at the moment are something along the lines of, "YOU IDIOT!!!!!"

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