|
|
Charles Douglas "Chuck" Heinrich, Detective
Born: February 16, 1948
Shot: May 3, 1983
End of Watch: August 29, 1985 |
 |
| |
|
On March 3rd, 1983, Detective Charles Heinrich
and Officer Jesse Eckard were driving on Dyer Street when they saw Edsel
Willis, who Officer Eckard had arrested once before for a weapons charge.
The officers stopped to talk with Willis but as the officers exited the
car, Willis started to walk away. As the two officers started to walk after
Willis, he pulled out a .22 caliber handgun from under his coat, turned
and fired at the officers. One bullet struck Detective Heinrich in the head.
Willis was brought down by one shot to the leg, fired by Officer Eckard.
Detective Heinrich was rushed to the hospital where he arrived unconscious
and in a coma. Detective Heinrich remained in a coma for 2 ½ years until
he died on August 29th, 1985. Willis, who had a history of mental illness,
was charged with attempting to kill the two officers and was sentenced to
life in prison. Just before the tragic shooting, Detetive Heinrich, who
had been assigned to the Burglary Division, had been named the El Paso Municipal
Police Officer Association’s Detective of the Year because of the number
of burglaries he solved. Detective Heinrick was an 11-year veteran of the
Police Department. He was survived by his wife and six year old son when
he died. Source: El Paso Herald Post
|
|
|
|
print-version