In what was described by authorities as an “ambush,” a nine-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office was fatally shot and killed Saturday night while pursuing a stolen car in Detroit.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the loss of Deputy Bradley Reckling as not just another tragedy for the department but a gut punch in a series of gut punches in recent years — which included three mass shootings, one as recent as a week ago — something “we don’t obviously want to have to talk about or ever have to face. But we have.”
“It’s like a boxer. You wonder how many punches they can get and still stay standing,” he said of the department at the press conference Sunday.
Bouchard stood before the media, trying to make sense of the loss while girding for the investigation that would follow Reckling’s death.
Bouchard detailed the events of Saturday night, saying instead of giving up or running, the stolen car suddenly stopped on the city’s east side, several individuals exited and shots were fired, striking the 30-year-old Reckling in the head and torso.
“The car suddenly stopped. Individuals exited that stolen vehicle and opened fire on our deputy. It was an ambush,” Bouchard said.
The vehicle that was pursued, a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, belonged to a Rochester Hills resident and had been stolen from Red Oaks Waterpark between 1 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Bouchard said. Reckling was one of three detectives from the office’s auto theft unit searching for the vehicle in Detroit and located it before 10:50 p.m. at Park Grove and Schoenherr.
Detroit police and Michigan State Police flooded the area. Law enforcement quickly set up a perimeter, and three people were taken into custody. The Oakland County sheriff said he got the call about the shooting “within minutes” from Detroit police Chief James White.
White praised Detroit and Michigan State Police in a post on X for their “quick and thorough response” to the shooting and said the Homicide Task Force will lead the investigation.
White also issued condolences to “the family, friends, and colleagues of Deputy Bradley Reckling.”
“To our law enforcement partners in Oakland County, please accept my most sincere admiration for the courage you will continue to show as you rise to meet the challenges of the coming days,” he said.
Reckling is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and children ages 5, 4, and 1, and his wife is expecting another child, Bouchard said.
Bouchard said his staff has been through many challenges, including the pandemic, the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School, the 2023 shooting at Michigan State University, the shooting earlier this month at a splash pad, and now Reckling’s death.
“Focus of this for us at this point, obviously in addition to getting justice from the criminal justice system, is how we support a family and an agency that’s been crushed,” Bouchard said. “Things like this are soul-crushing.”
On Nov. 30, 2021, four students, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana and Justin Shilling, were fatally shot at Oxford High School, and six other students and a teacher were wounded.
On Feb. 13, 2023, three students, Arielle Anderson, Alexandria Verner and Brian Fraser, were fatally shot at Michigan State University and five others were wounded.
And on June 15, nine people were wounded in a shooting at a Rochester Hills splash pad.
Bouchard also called for help for the family and for more mental health resources for the public safety officers.
“It’s been a challenge. It’s been a stretch. Looking in the face of our people and seeing their pain, it’s been tough on them,” he said, ticking off the assaults in the county.
“We know that in the last couple years, line of duty deaths have been terrible,” Bouchard said. “Ambushes have been up dramatically. Now we have another example of that. … The one thing that most people don’t realize is officer-involved suicides outstrip the number of line-of-duty deaths the last couple years.
“So the pressure on law enforcement, on public safety in general, is huge, and it’s taking its toll.”
Bouchard said people who want to help the family can make donations directly to the deputy’s family through Mission Oakland, a licensed charity, and can encourage public officials to increase funding to support law enforcement officers.
At the press conference, Bouchard read statements about Reckling by his coworkers. Reckling, who recently moved to the auto theft unit, was said to be hardworking, helpful and “larger than life.”
“Brad was one of the most selfless colleagues and the most dedicated husbands … there’s no other way to describe him other than just the best person,” Deputy Nathan Rogers said in a statement.
According to Deputy Matthew Morrison, Reckling had been spending his free time remodeling his family’s home for his pregnant wife and three daughters.
“Brad was a loving husband, father and an amazing friend,” Morrison said in a statement. “He loved the outdoors. Was an amazing fisherman, loved to deer hunt, and enjoyed growing his farm and raising animals …”
Romeo High School, from which Reckling graduated, posted condolences on social media.
“We are so deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Officer Brad Reckling, one of our Romeo grads. Our hearts are with his wife, Jacqueline, and four children,” the post said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she was “deeply saddened” by Reckling’s death. “My heart is with his family and the Oakland County communities he served,” she said on Facebook.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement she was “shocked and saddened” to learn of Reckling’s death and offered condolences to his family.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. This was a senseless murder and a terrible loss for our entire community,” McDonald said in the statement. “It’s also another tragedy caused by gun violence, which continues to take a tremendous toll on our community.”
State Rep. Kelly Breen, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, also issued a statement Sunday: “Any first responder’s death in the line of duty is a tragedy, but coming on the heels of officers coping with the recent mass shooting in Rochester Hills is horrific,” the Novi Democrat said in the statement. “While it’s poor solace, I’m glad Michigan State Police personnel were able to quickly make arrests, and I hope the accused are swiftly brought to justice.
“My heart goes out to Detective Reckling’s family and to all the brave men and women in the Sheriff’s Department who continue putting their lives on the line to keep our hometowns safe.”
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Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
