Officer Jose Flores is recovering after being shot, while the community and police association rally to help his family with financial burdens and the road ahead.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — More than a week after an officer involved shooting on Agnes Street left three Corpus Christi police officers injured, sending two of them to the hospital, the community is rallying to support one of the officers now facing a long recovery and mounting financial strain.
Senior Officer Jose Flores, who was shot in the arm, is back home and expected to make a full recovery, according to friends and family. But lost wages and medical expenses have created a heavy financial burden.
Flores is known for his community involvement, including helping continue late Officer Vicente Ortiz’s annual bike giveaway tradition in Sinton. Since the shooting, residents throughout the Coastal Bend have shared support and prayers for Flores and another hospitalized officer.
Police Chief Mike Markle said Flores is recovering but will be away from work for an extended period.
“Joe, he’s doing well,” Markle said. “He’ll be out for some time, but you know, his injuries could take some rehab too or will take some rehab.”
Corpus Christi Police Officers Association President Jody Fedler said that while officers understand the risks of the job, injuries like these remain unexpected.
“This is an unplanned thing,” Fedler said. “Police officers are not unlike, you know, anyone else who goes to work. They expect to come home. They expect to come home in one piece.”
Fedler said that when officers are seriously hurt, their families often lose access to significant sources of income.
“You’re gonna get your regular paycheck, but that’s all you’re gonna get,” he said. “You’re not getting any of your overtime — and then typically a lot of officers work off-duty security jobs.”
The recovery process can be lengthy, Fedler added.
“You cannot go back to work until you’re released from the doctor,” he said. “Especially in these instances here where these are — very traumatic injuries. You’re looking at a long road to recovery, so every little bit can help.”
For mental and emotional support, injured officers can turn to the department’s peer support team, Fedler said.
Markle said he remains grateful for the community’s response following the shooting.
“We have a great, great community,” he said. “They work with us — we work with them. If you were at the scene, you see how much of the community came out.”
Officer Flores’s good friend created a GoFundMe, which the community is using to support his family.