HOMEDALE — He's normally the one helping the community, and now the community is stepping up to help him.
Meridian police officer Kyle Mikowski was shot in the line of duty on July 1 after a felony warrant traffic stop.
MORE: Injured Meridian officer 'recovering well,' released from hospital after traffic stop shootout
Some money raised from a fundraiser held Friday night to help people handling medical emergencies went to Mikowski and his family. And at the event, he wanted to say, "thank you."
In its sixth year, the team roping and golf tournament raises money to help anyone going through a medical emergency. Organizers know firsthand just what a burden that is, so their mission is to help as many people as they can. This year, one of those people is Officer Mikowski. He was actually roping at the Badiola Arena where the fundraiser was held the day before the shooting happened.
'There are a lot of you guys who may not know this guy right here. He's a friend of mine, he moved here about two years ago. His name is Kyle Mikowski. Actually, his name is Officer Kyle Mikowski,” volunteer and team roper Marty Okamura said to the crowd. “He's a hero. But he's one of us.”
Mikowski didn't feel comfortable being interviewed on camera on Friday but KTVB's Morgan Boydston got the chance to speak with him and find out how he was doing. He said bullets pierced both his calves and the first month after the shooting was tough, but he's recovering well and is back at work on light duty. Mikowski is grateful to be alive - let alone walking.
A beneficiary of the 'Sandy McLeod Memorial Spurs and Spikes Tournament', Mikowski came out to the Badiola Arena in Homedale to thank everyone in the Treasure Valley who's lent support.
"It has been an incredible past month and a half with so many ups and downs but nothing that is going to hold me back. I can't say thank you enough to everyone. There are so many people who aren't here today that have helped me and there are so many people that are here today that have helped me. So, again, thank you from the bottom of my heart; I am forever indebted to each and every one of you,” Officer Mikowski said to everyone at the event.
Each year, the two-day roping and golf tournament raises about $20,000. The story behind it is special: the president of the organization received a donation herself years ago after she was bucked off a horse and seriously injured in 2005. Dode Dugger says while laid up, the American Cowboy Team Roping Association (ACTRA) sent her a check out of their crisis fund, along with sweet notes and well wishes.
"It was such a healing, touching experience. And after I healed up and was OK I sent the money back to them and they immediately called me back and said you keep that money and you start a chapter in your district in your area,” Dugger told KTVB.
Dugger says every dime they make is from sponsors, entries into the tournament and auctions and every dime goes to someone in a medical crisis. Now a nonprofit, they need more sponsors and help so they can reach more people in need in the Treasure Valley.