Lincoln Police Investigator Mario Herrera remains in extremely critical condition following a shooting last Wednesday near 33rd and Vine during the serving a search warrant.
Chief Jeff Bliemeister provided an update after speaking with his family who says Herrera has undergone five surgeries, with two on Sunday, to control bleeding in his abdomen. The family reports his physicians are cautiously optimistic about his recovery. Herrera is hospitalized at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. The most recent updates can be found on his CaringBridge page.
Bliemeister says whenever there is a situation that could potentially put law enforcement in danger, there is a lot of preplanning that goes into those operations. Lincoln Fire & Rescue was on standby as a precaution. When Herrera was shot, he was provided care by other officers at the scene until paramedics arrived moments later and provided care until he arrived at Bryan Health. He thanks both for providing that care that contributed to saving Herrera’s life.
Bliemeister says, “It is Mario and his family and what is inside of all of them that helps and is is pushing this progression forward. On behalf of everyone at the Lincoln Police Department, I ask you make that part of the story today on his update.”
The overwhelming support from the community is also incredible and ranges from prayers, support behind the scenes, financial contributions and the people stepping forward to donate blood. There were 80 new donors as of Friday which is unprecedented. Bliemeister says this is what is defining of Lincoln.
A legitimate Go Fund Me has been sent up too.
Other outpourings of support:
Chopsticks Restaurant presented a check for $3,999 after their fundraiser for Investigator Herrera Saturday (WOW!). In Chinese, the #3 means LIFE and the #9 means FOREVER. What a truly meaningful show of hopeful support. Thank you! #lnk pic.twitter.com/vmn4wUR42o
— Lincoln Police (@Lincoln_Police) August 31, 2020
Ribbons up around town, donation bins @ Farmers’ Market, Chopsticks restaurant donating proceeds, people reaching out to Ofcs to say they appreciate them, blood donations, and #lnk businesses creating products for Inv Herrera’s family, we feel your support. Thank you, Lincoln. pic.twitter.com/IsEtJo6Yzi
— Lincoln Police (@Lincoln_Police) August 30, 2020
Officers are working through this as well. Bliemeister says fellow officers seeing a colleague fighting for their life is extremely difficult and they have support systems in place. The healing process will take time. He says, “We have structured processes in place from the informal of peers and family members reaching out to the more formal programs, internal resource officers, going to briefings, reaching out to those who were present to more formal processes of critical incident debriefing that is ongoing.”