Officer Back at Work Three Years After Deadly Shooting

In 2007 four officers were gunned down, one of them killed

For the hundred or so gathered in the parking lot of the South-Dade police headquarters, it was a bittersweet day.

Three years ago to the day -- September 13th, 2007 -- four officers were shot when they stopped a vehicle that was being driven erratically in Southwest Miami-Dade. Dead was Officer Jose Somohano, critically injured was his law enforcement partner Officer Jody Wright, two other officers were slightly injured.

Within hours of the shoot-out, Miami-Dade police tracked down Somohano's killer. Shawn Sherwin Labeet decided to once again to take on police with guns blazing. The police prevailed, and so did Wright.

The now-34-year-old officer had suffered massive damage to her right leg. It took her 17 surgeries and three years of rehab to get her walking again. Monday, she was in uniform, returning to duty.

Officer Wright credits the memory of Somohano as the driving force behind her desire to strap on the service gun and stungun.

"Every day he is my inspiration. I know that he is up above being my Guardian Angel. And I know he would be proud of me today coming back to full duty. This is for me and for him," said the confident officer.  "Wheel chairs, crutches, braces, it was all for a purpose that led me for today. I am back and I am ready."

Jim Loftus, Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department, was beaming as he watched Officer Wright embrace family members and fellow officers.

"She is phenomenal," said Loftus. "The spirit of this young woman has been well chronicled through this department. People ask, 'How's Jody? How's Jody?' Now we see Jody is doing darn well."

Back on the job, Jody Wright will work with the police department's special events unit. Look hard at baseball or football games, and you are likely to see officer Wight directing traffic or patrolling the stands. She'll be there with her Guardian Angel Officer Jose Somohano keeping watch over a very courageous and determined Miami-Dade police officer.

Contact Us