An officer of the Norman Police Department (NPD) was critically injured in a vehicle collision while attending to an incident on State Highway 9. The incident occurred on Thursday evening at about 7:19 p.m. just west of 108th Avenue SE. According to a statement on the Norman Police Department's website, Sgt. Justin Hackbarth was hit by a vehicle while outside his patrol unit and is now in critical but stable condition.
Following the collision, Sgt. Hackbarth was rushed to OU Medical Center and has already undergone initial surgery. Known for his commitment to public service, Hackbarth has been a part of the NPD for over a decade. In a statement obtained by the Norman Police Department's news release, Norman Chief of Police Kevin Foster said, "Justin is a valued member of our department known for his selfless commitment to public service." Addressing the severity of the sergeant's injuries, Chief Foster also expressed gratitude for community support and acknowledged the difficult times ahead for Hackbarth and his family.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Collision Reconstruction Team has taken charge of the investigation into the cause of the collision. Meanwhile, the Norman Police Department has not released further details about the driver of the vehicle that struck Sgt. Hackbarth or the circumstances leading to the accident.
The NPD has experienced an overwhelming amount of support from local, county, and state agencies in response to the collision, which has not gone unnoticed. Working tirelessly after the officer was critically struck, the Norman Police Department credits the swift response of these partner agencies for their sustained support. "We are standing firmly with Justin," Chief Foster told the NPD news outlet, hopeful for Hackbarth's recovery given the officer's "unwavering strength." The department has requested the community to keep Sgt. Hackbarth, his family, and medical professionals in their thoughts as they navigate this difficult situation.
