The danger level was certainly up there. In June 1993, he and Officer Robert Hatfield were given letters of commendation for their work handling the aftereffects of a windstorm that severely damaged several homes in St. Joseph Township, just east of Fort Wayne. Till Road 1. Allen County Sheriff's Department responds to a reported burglary in process at 1530 Billy Drive. Officers investigate and find a briefcase belonging to residents of a home at 1418 Billy.
Investigators alert residents at that home that they had been burglarized.
Officer Robert Heffner begins searching the area and locates a pickup parked on a gravel lane south of Till Road. Heffner and Officer Eryk Heck stake out the truck. A man walks up to the truck. As Heffner approaches the subject, the suspect opens fire on the officers. Heffner is struck in the arm.