Officers involved in police shooting receive medals

In some ways, Dothan police officers Walter Handley and Arthur Schaefer wonder what all the fuss is about.

They were the ones who were just doing their jobs when they walked into an armed robbery in progress almost two months ago. That night, it could have been any member of the police department’s second squad patrol.

But it was Handley and Schaefer who walked into an ambush that night. Andrevis Deon Davis sat hunched down behind the counter of the Hobo Pantry store at 2808 E. Main St. With a gun in his right hand, he peered over the counter as the officers walked in.

Davis rose and fired one shot at point blank range, hitting Schaefer in the face. He turned and fired twice at Handley, hitting him in the right shoulder and right side. Schaefer returned fire and hit Davis several times. The two officers stumbled out of the store and sought cover as Houston County Sheriff’s Deputy Donovan Kilpatrick arrived on the scene.
So why all the fuss?

Change the trajectory of Davis’ first bullet just once inch, and it travels through Schaefer’s brain instead of his cheek and they are chiseling his name on a memorial for fallen officers today instead of pinning medals on his uniform. Change the trajectory of Davis’ second or third bullets just two or three inches, and the bullet travels through Handley’s heart and his name appears on a wall as well.

It’s why the Dothan Police Department held an award’s ceremony to recognize the two officers and others who were involved in the incident.
Police Chief John Powell awarded Schaefer the Medal of Valor, Police Cross, Lifesaving Medal and Purple Heart. He awarded Handley the Police Star, Police Cross, Lifesaving Medal and Purple Heart.

Powell also awarded Kilpatrick — first on the scene — a Medal of Commendation.

“I’m very thankful for the way the situation turned out,” Kilpatrick said. “But it’s a situation I don’t ever want to be in again.”

Kilpatrick said he was on routine patrol when he saw Officer Handley run out of the store with his gun drawn. He said it looked as if Handley was looking for cover when he saw Schaefer run out of the store and go to his car. Kilpatrick said he immediately called dispatch.

There is a special code officers use to signal that an officer is in distress. In the chaos of the situation, plain English worked just as well.
“Officer down! Officer down!,” Kilpatrick said he remembers yelling repeatedly.

He told dispatchers the officers were Dothan Police officers.

About that time, Kilpatrick said the store clerk ran out of the store and he helped direct the clerk to cover.

“I stayed with her and then we were trying to figure out who the bad guy was and who the customer was,” Kilpatrick said.

Meanwhile, dispatchers alerted rescue personnel, who arrived in moments. The Dothan Fire Department and units from the Dothan Police Department and Houston County Sheriff’s Department came immediately.

Handley and Schaefer were rushed to a local hospital and later recovered from their wounds. They are now back on the force.
Powell said he remembers visiting Handley, who had been on the force less than a month and had not attended the police academy yet.
“I remember him asking me if he could still go to the police academy,” Powell said.

Also receiving medals Wednesday were the 11 other members of the Second Squad Patrol Division, who received Medals of Merit. The five telecommunicators in the 2nd Squad Communications Division also received Medals of Merit.

Attorney General Troy King attended the ceremony and said it is important to recognize the officers because of the risks they take.
“We sleep safely and soundly in our communities out of blood-bought cost,” he said.