Elites aid law enforcement officer’s recovery

LUFKIN, Texas – Tyler Wheeler remembers the details of the night with great clarity: Everything except the bullets actually hitting his body.

Wheeler, a wildlife officer for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife, was shot five times in January, including a round that remains lodged in his brain after shattering his jaw. Five months later he was standing behind the stage at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefitting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, shaking hands with Elite anglers who have helped him during his recovery.

“It’s really amazing where he is at this moment,” said Todd Faircloth, who was one of several anglers who donated items for auction at a derby held to benefit Wheeler.

Faircloth was talking more about the physical shape Wheeler was in than his location at the weigh-in. A steady line of anglers shared Faircloth’s assessment. Most were amazed when Wheeler showed them the scars from his wounds; all of them were openly appreciative of his sacrifice.

“When it comes to helping someone like Tyler, I feel like it’s the least we can do,” Faircloth said. “I just wanted to show how grateful and thankful I am for what they do.

“It’s sad what our law enforcement officers have to deal with every day. It’s scary now days every time they pull someone over, something like that can happen.”

Wheeler was on a mission in January to catch night hunters in Morehouse Parish. He was returning home at about 2 a.m., coincidentally, the same time local nightclubs begin closing.

“I saw a vehicle in front of me that was all over the road,’’ Wheeler said. “So I stopped the vehicle to see if the driver was under the influence.” 

Wildlife officers have the authority to make traffic stops when public safety is in question. While Wheeler couldn’t reveal specific details, he did say once the vehicle was pulled over, he asked for the driver’s license. After returning to his truck to call in the information he learned the license belonged to a 16-year old and the occupant was approximately 30 years old. In addition, the license plates on the vehicle, displayed on a new Jeep, belonged to a Chevrolet truck.

“I figured there was probably something wrong with the vehicle and the occupant,” Wheeler said. “I went back to the vehicle because I expected the driver to be impaired. I wanted to get the driver to step out so I could perform a field sobriety test. When I did, the driver reached out of the window and fired one shot that went through my shoulder.”

Wheeler spun around from the .38 Special shot and ran to the back of the vehicle, all the while trying to get his gun from his holster to defend himself. Standard police holsters have a series of locks so they can’t be simply drawn or in a worst-case scenario pulled out by an offender in a scuffle.

“We had a heavy jacket on that night because it was 16 degrees,’’ Wheeler explained, “and my jacket was blocking me from getting my gun out of the holster.”

Despite the shot to the shoulder and the struggle with the holster, Wheeler knew he needed to move.

“I didn’t want to stay behind there for too much longer. So I ran and got behind a tree that was about 25 yards away. And laid down on the ground.”

While lying there he continually tried to get his gun out. But he couldn’t budge the weapon.

“I figured if I get back to my truck, I’ve got an AR-15 and a shotgun in there,” he said. “I can press the button on the radio, they’d both unlock. I took off and ran back to the truck but I tripped and fell.”

During Wheeler’s struggle the driver had exited the vehicle intent on finishing the job.

“When I fell, I covered up my head and the driver fired two rounds that went through my arm and when they exited, one went through my temple and it went into the back of my brain and then the other one hit my jaw and shattered my left jaw.”

In a cold calculating way, the driver walked up to Wheeler and fired almost point blank into his back.

“That shot hit my vest, which it stopped. The driver then went back to the vehicle. Got in, and left. And my partner pulled up probably 30 seconds later.”

The trauma not yet realized, Wheeler implored his partner to give chase, but Wheeler was in too bad of shape to leave him. His wounds required removal of part of his skull, and the replacement of part of his jaw with metal. Eight weeks ago he had surgery to put the missing part of his skull in place. A bullet remains in his brain. The shooter was apprehended the next day and will stand trial for attempted murder. 

Wheeler, though, has been on a steady path of recovery – some of the emotional healing coming from supportive friends, fellow law officers and from Elite anglers.

“A lot of those officers fish a lot and follow the sport,’’ Faircloth said.

Following a 2015 shooting of a fellow officer who remains in a wheelchair today, several Louisiana wildlife officers put on a bass tournament. Two of them, Josh Harris and David Harrell, decided to do the same for Wheeler.

Their planning crossed paths with David Jones of Gopher Industries.

“I read Tyler’s story and there was never any question that I wanted to help,” Jones said. “I’ve always had the utmost respect for law enforcement.”

Jones asked the officers which anglers they followed the most. Their answers were Faircloth and Kevin VanDam. Jones jumped into action.

“Kevin said, ‘whatever I can do, I will do. I want to help,’” Jones said. “It was the same for Todd and every angler I called.”

Before long, Jones had coordinated a whole slate of jerseys and other items for an auction, along with eight teams to fish in the big bass event on Lake D’Arbonne. Jones and longtime professional angler, Carl Svebeck worked the event.

“The schedule didn’t line up for the Elites to be there,’’ Jones said.

With the Elite at Sam Rayburn, Jones saw an opportunity for Wheeler to meet them.

“It lifted Tyler’s spirits,” Jones said “It also helped raise awareness for what these guys (law enforcement) do, while showing the heart theses Elite guys have.

If they have a moment and there’s a way they can help, they do it all the time.

“They touch lives all over the U.S. They are role models. Even with strenuous schedules, they stop and they’ll give and give.”

While backstage at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, all of the anglers agreed; they gave nothing compared to what Wheeler has given and lost.

(Editor’s note: Donations to help Wheeler during his recovery can be made through the Louisiana Wildlife Agency Association or mailed in care of Tyler Wheeler, Monroe Region 2 Office, 368 Century Link Drive, Monroe, Louisiana.)