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Man pleads guilty to shooting Philly cop
Antonio Coulter, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to shooting rookie Philaldelphia Police Officer Richard Decoatsworth. Coulter shot Decoatsworth on Sept. 24. Last month, Decoatsworth was in Chester County accepting the 2007 Legion of Excellence award from the Delaware Valley Association of Professional Police Officials.
The following is from an interview with Decoatsworth after the ceremony in East Whiteland.
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Philadelphia police officer Richard Decoatsworth was honored April 26 for chasing a suspect after getting shot in the face on Sept. 24, 2007.
The new officer had just encountered a vehicle with four males inside when one of them shot Decoatsworth. But the officer was able to return fire and chase the gunman for three blocks.
Responding officers took Decoatsworth to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Since then he has had two other minor procedures and will need additional surgery.
Police arrested a 20-year-old man shortly after the shooting and located a sawed-off shotgun nearby. The man faces attempted murder charges and is awaiting trial.
Decoatsworth plans to return to his job soon – the only job the 22-year-old has had where it didn’t feel like work.
“I’ve worked a lot of small jobs in my short life. Police work is the only job where I go to bed and can’t wait to wake up,” he said. “Getting shot is an unfortunate part of this business. For me, it’s made me realize that there’s more to be done and I can’t quit after getting hurt.”
While recovering, he has gone to the hospital when other city cops have been killed or injured on the job.
“When an officer gets shot or hurt, I feel I’ve been there so I want to show them that it may seem rough, but I promise you it’s going to get better,” he said.
But he is blunt about how it feels to be hurt in the line of duty.
“It sucks. It’s a set back. It really knocks you off your post,” he said.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told Decoatsworth at the event he has a spot waiting for him in the department.
“You got your choice of assignments,” Ramsey said. “All you got to do is get well and come back.”
The following is from an interview with Decoatsworth after the ceremony in East Whiteland.
---
Philadelphia police officer Richard Decoatsworth was honored April 26 for chasing a suspect after getting shot in the face on Sept. 24, 2007.
The new officer had just encountered a vehicle with four males inside when one of them shot Decoatsworth. But the officer was able to return fire and chase the gunman for three blocks.
Responding officers took Decoatsworth to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Since then he has had two other minor procedures and will need additional surgery.
Police arrested a 20-year-old man shortly after the shooting and located a sawed-off shotgun nearby. The man faces attempted murder charges and is awaiting trial.
Decoatsworth plans to return to his job soon – the only job the 22-year-old has had where it didn’t feel like work.
“I’ve worked a lot of small jobs in my short life. Police work is the only job where I go to bed and can’t wait to wake up,” he said. “Getting shot is an unfortunate part of this business. For me, it’s made me realize that there’s more to be done and I can’t quit after getting hurt.”
While recovering, he has gone to the hospital when other city cops have been killed or injured on the job.
“When an officer gets shot or hurt, I feel I’ve been there so I want to show them that it may seem rough, but I promise you it’s going to get better,” he said.
But he is blunt about how it feels to be hurt in the line of duty.
“It sucks. It’s a set back. It really knocks you off your post,” he said.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told Decoatsworth at the event he has a spot waiting for him in the department.
“You got your choice of assignments,” Ramsey said. “All you got to do is get well and come back.”
posted by Jenn Miller at
5:17 PM
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