Shot and critically injured, April 12, 2003
On April 12, 2003, Officer Sitek and his partner attempted a traffic stop on the driver of a red truck who cut off the patrol vehicle. The driver had just committed an armed car- jacking. When the officers stopped, the driver began shooting, hitting Officer Sitek four times in his abdomen, leg and hand. Officer Sitek was in cardiac arrest when responding paramedics arrived. He was revived, rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and coded in the emergency room. Officer Sitek was brought back to life and as of June 3, 2003 had pulled out of his three week coma, is breathing on his own and has been transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. He is still unable to walk.
The shooter, Francisco A. Gallardo, was a Mexican citizen who had recently completed a seven-year prison term for aggravated assault. He had been deported after his release but had returned. Gallardo was shot and killed by Officer Sitek’s partner as he attempted to escape.
