A year has passed since the day turmoil broke out in Clackamas County when Deputy Dan Blair and Deputy Jeremy McKenna were shot in response to a burglary. As of Sunday, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office shared some relieving news: both deputies have fully recovered and returned to duty.
Recalling the harrowing incident that occurred on June 30, 2023, the Sheriff's Office stated, "On June 30, 2023, deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a business in the area of SE 70th Ave and SE Johnson Creek Blvd in unincorporated Clackamas County." While attempting to address the situation with two suspects, the deputies were shot — Deputy Blair took a bullet to the arm while Deputy McKenna, stuck in his ballistic vest, also suffered a wound to his abdomen. Thankfully, they were released from OHSU the same day they were admitted.
The suspects, Tyler J. Scott and Joseph R. Shaffer were apprehended promptly following the shooting, with the former facing serious charges. Scott, as detailed by the Sheriff's Office, is still being held and battles charges that encompass Attempted Aggravated Murder. When released from custody Shaffer, on the other hand, served his time for his involvement, charged with Theft in the First Degree and a parole violation.
Both deputies spent months in recovery, with their resilience culminating in a return to their roles in protecting the community. In a show of support, the Sheriff's Office shared, "We are incredibly grateful and happy to share that after months of recovery, both Deputy Blair and Deputy McKenna are back in uniform and once again patrolling Clackamas County." With Blair and McKenna back on patrol, the Sheriff's Office has reclaimed a measure of the normalcy disrupted on that fateful June day a year ago.
The story of their wounding and recovery, while it followed a narrative that has become all too familiar in America, also stands as a testament to the community's spirit and the perseverance of its officers. As the Sheriff's Office extends "our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported Deputies Blair and McKenna and our agency," it is a sentiment undoubtedly echoed by the residents they serve.
