Community rallies together for Shelby officer shot in line of duty

SHELBY, N.C. — Friends, family and members of the Faith Baptist Church in Shelby prayed Sunday for critically wounded Shelby police officer Tim Brackeen and his family.

Pastor Barry Goodman dedicated the service to them.

“Our whole church today, the whole service, every song that was sung, it has Tim in mind and in his honor we dedicated the service,” he said.

The church members wore blue and were given a blue ribbon in honor of the service provided by Brackeen and other law enforcement officers.

Uysse Romero said Brackeen ushers with him during Sunday church services. He has been a friend of Brackeen's for more than 15 years.

Romero said that every Sunday, Brackeen would come to the service with his wife and daughter.

“He's pretty fun," Romero said. "He likes to do things. [He's] really passionate about his job and really liked the K-9 part of it.”

Brackeen has worked with the Shelby Police Department since 2004 and has been a K-9 officer for the past 10 years.

(Officer Brackeen K-9 demonstration)

Around 12:20 a.m. Saturday, investigators said they were serving a warrant on Gidney Street when Brackeen was shot in the torso. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and his K-9 was in the car.

The suspect, 23-year-old Irving Fenner Jr., was being sought for armed robbery and kidnapping charges. He’s now facing an attempted murder charge. Police are still searching for him.

Romero said the news of his friend being shot was devastating.

“I was shocked because he was really passionate about his job and he really enjoyed it," Romero said. "To hear that happened to him, when you hear about it on TV [is one thing] but when it's someone you know, it really touches you.”

Please keep Shelby officer Tim Brackeen in your thoughts and prayers. He was shot while trying to serve a warrant pic.twitter.com/p3DqrzvZCq
— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) September 10, 2016

Channel 9 cameras weren’t allowed in the church, but reporter Gina Esposito sat in on the service. Many church members cried as Goodman preached over a flag that read “Team Brackeen.”

Goodman said that he has been in contact with Brackeen’s family.

“Certainly, they are devastated, certainly they are shocked. They weren't prepared for this,” he said.

(Officer Brackeen speaks with children in the community)

“He's been a good friend, he's a really good guy. It’s a good feeling to know so many people are praying for Officer Brackeen," Blain Richard, a friend of Brackeen's said.

Outside the Shelby Police Department Sunday, people in the community brought by cards and food to show support.

There will be a community vigil for Brackeen Monday night at 7 p.m. in the court square in downtown Shelby. Organizers are encouraging everyone to wear blue.

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