Two Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies who were shot by an armed suspect in February are returning to work after months of recovery, police said Thursday.
Deputies Ryan Rathbun and Jason Thompson were responding to a “shots fired” call near Maple Falls on Feb. 10 when they both suffered shotgun wounds to the head.
Joel Berck Young plead not guilty to two counts of attempted murder and other charges on Feb. 18. A jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2023.
Both deputies have undergone a variety of medical treatments since the incident and recently were evaluated and cleared for duty, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Thursday release.
Sheriff Bill Elfo welcomed the pair back to active duty.
“Deputy Rathbun and Deputy Thompson not only fought to survive the deadly attack that was launched against them last February; they courageously battled to recover from their wounds and return to fulfill their passion for serving and protecting the community,” Elfo said in the release.
“We at the Sheriff’s Office are eternally grateful to all who made their survival and recovery possible.”
Thompson has been a sheriff’s deputy since December 2008, currently serving as a patrol officer in the Foothills area and as a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team.
Rathbun began his career locally as a Corrections Deputy in 2006, moving to patrol duty in July 2008. He also serves as a member of the SWAT team and as a defensive tactics instructor.
The deputies filed suit against the alleged shooter in March.
