Specialist Edward Zapata, the Fort Worth Police Department Civilian Response Unit member who was shot in the eye while taking a burglary report in April, walked back into work Tuesday to an emotional welcome from coworkers and city leaders.
Teammates, supervisors and officials had quietly arranged a brief celebration, greeting him with applause, hugs and handshakes as he rejoined the unit. Local television crews were rolling as Zapata stepped into the station to cheers and a small ceremony put together by his colleagues, video that showed officers lining up to embrace him and thank him as he returned to duty, according to WFAA.
How the ambush unfolded
On April 28, Zapata was taking a burglary report in the 3500 block of North Juliet Lane when a man across the street opened fire. A piece of shrapnel hit Zapata in the left eye as he was guiding a resident to safety. Police arrested 39‑year‑old Angel Cantu and charged him with aggravated assault on a public servant, according to the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram.
Speaking to CBS Texas during his recovery, Zapata said, “My hope is to come back and hopefully wear the civilian response unit uniform and get back out there and do what I was trained to do and continue to serve the community and help as much as I can.”
What the Civilian Response Unit does
The Civilian Response Unit is made up of non‑sworn, unarmed specialists who take lower‑priority reports so sworn officers can stay focused on emergency calls. The department explains on its CRU information page that these employees are not armed and do not respond to calls where a suspect is on the scene or likely to return, a policy that has drawn renewed attention since Zapata’s injury. More details about the unit’s role and deployment are outlined on the Fort Worth Police website.
Zapata, a 30‑year U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has said he wants to return to field work, was released from John Peter Smith Hospital in early May and escorted home by a police motorcade, according to local coverage and department posts. NBC DFW also reported that even after he was struck, Zapata moved through the scene to get a woman to safety, an act colleagues and neighbors described as heroic.
His return to active duty was presented by the department as a shot of morale for the Civilian Response Unit and a stark reminder of the risks facing both sworn officers and civilian responders. City and police leaders who visited Zapata during his recovery praised his resilience and said his comeback has inspired officers and neighbors across the north Fort Worth community.
