Friendship Tennessee Police Chief Recovering From Gunshot Wound

(Friendship, TN) The police chief of Friendship, Tennessee in Crockett County said he’s ready to go back to work.

Chief Bill Garrett was shot after he walked-in on an armed robbery at a Dollar General store.  

Chief Garret was airlifted to The MED after the shooting and area laymen arrested a man the very next day.

Wednesday, Chief Garrett talked with us about the shooting and all the support he’s getting.

From his hospital room at The MED,  Chief Garrett said he’s anxious to get back to work, ”I’m doing better. I’m just real sore.”

The 52-year-old lawman was shot in the abdomen and the bullet passed through his liver, ”I’ve got two holes, plus a pretty large incision. So gettin’ around’s not real easy but I’m doing pretty good.”

39-year-old Craig Barbee was arrested and charged a day after the shooting at the Dollar General Store. 

Chief Garrett and his wife stopped at the store, not knowing someone with a gun was inside robbing the store.    

Casey Burnett is Mayor of Friendship, “I’ve been the mayor 24 years, never had one of our officers get shot before. And it’s kind of a new experience for all of us.”

Mayor Burnett says Garrett is more than just police chief. He’s a volunteer fireman and paramedic, ”Every town has a hero. and Chief Garrett’s kind of the hero around Friendship here.”

At  the Friendship Bank where Chief Garrett’s wife works, Manager Lisa Myrick said a fund has been set up.

There’s even a bake sale planned Friday help the family,

“They want to make sure that they have everything that they need and try to ease this burden as much as they can. The community’s been very generous to the Garrett’s and Ithink that will continue.”

Chief Garrett says he may get out of the hospital in a week and is grateful for the support he’s received, ”I’ve  been very surprised by the support. I want to thank everyone, every department that came out and helped.”

And his home town is ready to welcome him back..

“We miss Chief Garrett. we need him to hurry up and get well and get on back to Friendship.”