Hogan Recalls Mad Butcher Shooting in Podcast Episode
RISON - Wesley Hogan of New Edinburg recalled sitting in his office at the Fordyce Police Department around noon time on Friday, June 21, discussing possible lunch options with Police Chief Chad Hubanks and another officer when a call came across his radio about an active shooter at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce.
All three officers sprang into action as Hogan recalled putting on his armored vest and grabbing his AR rifle. Within four minutes, Hogan was among the officers actively engaging in gunfire with the suspect.
Hogan joins the latest episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast to recall this day, and the recent honor he and his fellow officers received. The episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and online at ClevelandCountyHerald.com
Last week, the Arkansas Department of Safety’s Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training awarded Hogan and those other law enforcement officers involved in the mass shooting with its Invictus Award recognizing a law enforcement officer whose “actions go above and beyond their job requirements.”
“Their courageous efforts undoubtedly saved lives and prevented further tragedy in their community,” said Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Scott Bradley.
Other law enforcement officers presented with the award included Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedl and Deputy Tim Wolford; and Fordyce Police Chief Chad Hubanks along with officers Neil Brasse, James Johnson and Steven Murray.
Hogan calls the honor “unexpected.”
“I didn’t think we’d get an award for doing our job,” he said. “I’m grateful, but I don’t feel deserving of an award. I was just doing what I could to help.”
What he does feel though, is pride.
“I’m proud of everyone that was there that was beside me. I’m proud of the medical professionals that were there. I’m proud of the everyday citizen that came to help.” he said. “I think those people deserve credit too.”
Because the incident remains under investigation, Hogan used caution during the recording of the podcast not to say anything too specific that could impact the case.
Looking back on the day, he said the scene felt much longer.
“Even though it was less than five minutes, it felt like we were there for about an hour,” he said of the moment he described as chaos.
“There were people that were hurt laying in the parking lot, there was a lot of screaming, and there was shooting going on the whole time,” he said.
He recalled the officers pulling up to find an off-duty officer already onsite directing them on the street so they did not drive into the line of fire.
The Fordyce Police Department officers were followed by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department as well as officers from Drew, Grant and Cleveland Counties, the Arkansas State Police and Arkansas Highway Police.
“Anyone you can think of in a 100-mile radius showed up,” he said.
When arriving on scene, Hogan recalled seeing many people he knew personally, including one of the victims, Callie Weems, a friend from Kingsland, and nurse that worked with his wife.
“It was hard separating yourself from the situation and compartmentalize things in the moment,” he said. “I think after years of doing it and mentally preparing yourself, you become numb to a lot of things in the situation.”
He said nothing really bothered him while it was going on, it was not until the shooting stopped and the situation was considered safe, that he began to process it and feel the “flood of emotions.”
His focus remained on stopping the shooter, protecting his officers beside him and the people there.
“That’s the most important thing,” he said. “You don’t really think a whole lot about yourself or about anything else that’s going on. You don’t have time for it. You can’t get distracted. That’s how you get hurt, that’s how you let other people get hurt.”
Once the shooter was neutralized, Hogan said he and the officers began assisting first responders with providing medical aid. He considers the Pro Med crew the biggest heroes and wished they got more recognition.
“They put their lives at risk to help the victims, and I think they’re amazing heroes for that,” he said of the efforts they made to provide aid while the shooting was still occurring.
When things were finally safe, that is when Hogan found a moment to think about his own family. He said his phone had so many texts and calls from friends and family wanting to know if he was safe.
He was able to let his wife and parents know he was safe, and even friends and former co-workers from his time with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department.
Now five months out from the shooting (and a career change), Hogan looks back and sees a stronger sense of community in Fordyce.
“It’s terrible that such horrible things have to happen for us to realize that we’re not all so different and we can all show brotherly love and care for each other,” he said. “Sometimes those terrible events remind us that we’re all human.”
During the podcast, Hogan shares stories of his time in the military, being stationed in Italy, and returning home to Cleveland County where he first worked for Sheriff Jack Rodgers.
He also shares more about how he has processed his own heartbreak and sadness following the shooting; and how that led him to leave law enforcement for a new position with FBT Bank in mobile and Internet baking.
All episodes of Free Range Conversations are streaming now.