Officer Mollee Heeney Recovery Support Fund

I had the honor of visiting Mollee Heeney in the hospital on Monday. Over the last 10 years I’ve been cheering for Mollee in soccer, life and her developing law enforcement career. It was an encouraging time at the hospital to learn what actually happened on that traumatic afternoon last Thursday (October 27). Mollee and her partner got a call to a violent neighborhood disturbance. As soon as she arrived a juvenile with a criminal history had already apparently shot one man in the chest and then pointed a gun at Mollee and began shooting at her. The first bullet squarely hit her thigh and shattered her femur into 17 pieces. (The x-ray is shocking.) As Mollee turned to take cover behind her car, he shot her again in the back. That bullet apparently glanced off her vest and lodged deep in her shoulder. At that point her partner intervened and stopped the barrage which would certainly have continued had he not been there. The shooter is in custody and being charged with a number of indictments including attempted murder. As it played out, Mollee miraculously had a ride-along who was an experienced emergency room nurse who was able to apply triage that played a critical role in Mollee living through her harrowing ordeal rather than bleeding out at the scene.

Mollee was flown to Colorado Springs and had a national-class surgeon treat her extensive wounds and rebuilt her femur around a steel post which she will carry for the rest of her life. The surgeries have put her onto a hopeful course of full recovery. Rather than causing more damage by digging them out, she will also carry those two bullets for life.

Hero is not a term to be used lightly but it certainly pertains to Mollee. The note from the other victim, 42-year-old Ricardo Rangel, to Mollee thanking her for intervening and saving his life brought tears to my eyes and demonstrates her bravery and heroism.

Mollee intends to return to the Alamosa Police Department as soon as she is able.

If you would like to support Mollee at this time, any gift would be greatly needed and appreciated.