Lt. Brian Murphy retiring from Oak Creek Police Department

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy, one of the hero’s of the Sikh temple shooting, will officially retire Wednesday, June 12th.

Lt. Murphy has been with the force for 22 years.

Lt. Murphy was shot multiple times by Wade Page on Sunday, August 5th. Lt. Murphy was the first to arrive at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek that morning, and encountered Page in the Temple’s parking lot.

Lt. Murphy was rushed to Froedtert Hospital in critical condition, where he would spend the next 12 hours in surgery and the next 18 days in the hospital. Lt. Murphy pulled through and became an inspirational figure — a symbol of resilience in the distressing aftermath of a mass shooting.

Lt. Murphy has received numerous honors for his actions that day. He was even mentioned in President Obama’s State of the Union Address — and sat in the gallery the night it was delivered.

According to Chief Edwards, Lt. Murphy and his doctors determined that his recovery from the injuries he sustained in August 2012 during the Sikh Temple shooting are prohibiting him from resuming policing duties.

“I live with the limitations,” Lt. Murphy told FOX6 News on Wednesday.

“Where he started, when these injuries occurred to where he is today, to think that he would be up and walking and talking and having a conversation with you is amazing,” Chief Edwards said.

Lt. Murphy told FOX6 News in a recent one-on-one interview that though he was physically weakened by Page that August day, he is somehow spiritually stronger.

“I’m fortunate.  Other than losing the tip of my thumb, I’m whole, and more importantly, the inside of me is whole,” Lt. Murphy said.

Edwards says writing the resignation letter was tough for Lt. Murphy — but Edwards says he knew this day was coming.

“He can’t come out and say ‘I’m going to try and get a retirement’ because that’s not what he’s doing. He was trying to heal and get back to work,” Chief Edwards said.

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