Officer wounded in temple shooting was a Marine

Officer wounded in temple shooting a skilled veteran
By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel

Unable to speak, Oak Creek police Lt. Brian Murphy held up his hand for Chief John Edwards to hold.

He mouthed one word: "Sorry."

Oak Creek Police Department 

Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy, who was wounded in the Sikh Temple shooting.

Edwards visited Murphy on Monday night at Froedtert Hospital - a day after the 21-year Oak Creek police veteran was shot numerous times while responding to the massacre at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek.

"He was stable. He was alert. He acknowledged me. He smiled, brought up his hand, (he) wanted me to grab his hand. Kind of mouthed to me he was sorry," said an emotional Edwards.

After taking a few moments to compose himself, Edwards said in an interview Tuesday at the Oak Creek police station, "It's been a long couple days."

Murphy, 51, sped to the temple Sunday morning after people inside called 911 to report hear ing gunshots. Before Murphy could get inside the temple, Wade Michael Page, 40, opened fire, hitting the officer eight or nine times. Another Oak Creek police officer, Sam Lenda, shot and killed Page after the assailant refused to drop his weapon and surrender.

Six people who had gone to the temple to participate in a Sunday service were slain by Page; three others were wounded in addition to Murphy.

Murphy grew up in New York City - a fact readily apparent to anyone who hears him talk. Despite more than two decades in Wisconsin, Murphy has not lost his accent.

Before he became a cop, he was a U.S. Marine deployed overseas. He was later assigned to the United Nations in New York as part of the U.N. security detail, protecting dignitaries.
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