Shot and Paralyzed The Remarkable Journey of Retired Police Sergeant Kevin Holtry

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - In November 2016, Sergeant Kevin Holtry of the Boise Police Department found his life forever altered during what began as a routine tactical search in a quiet Idaho neighborhood. The mission was to locate a violent fugitive, an early-release parolee suspected in multiple shootings and a carjacking. But in a sudden and deadly ambush, the operation turned tragic.

Holtry, a seasoned member of Boise PD’s Special Operations Unit, led the sweep through residential backyards alongside Sergeant Chris Davis. The suspect, hiding behind a set of trash cans, opened fire without warning. Holtry was struck five times. One of the bullets left him instantly paralyzed. Another injury led to the eventual amputation of his left leg. Davis was also wounded but survived. The department’s K9 partner, Jardo, was killed in the attack.

“He knew the risk,” a Boise Police Department spokesperson said. “But Kevin always put others before himself. That’s the kind of officer he was.”

The road that followed was marked by grueling surgeries, physical therapy, and a profound transformation. Yet, instead of letting trauma define him, Holtry found a new way to serve and to live.

“I was hit immediately,” Holtry recalled during an interview on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast. “I couldn’t move. I knew it was bad. I couldn’t feel anything.”

Despite the life-changing injuries, Holtry stayed active in law enforcement for several years after the incident. His bravery and dedication earned him the department’s highest recognition: the Medal of Honor. But colleagues say it was his determination and resilience that left the greatest impression.

“Kevin exemplifies what it means to serve with honor,” said a Boise PD official. “He never gave up, not in the fight, not during recovery, and not when it came to helping others heal.”

Outside the uniform, Holtry became a mentor, motivational speaker, and advocate for injured first responders. He also discovered a new passion in adaptive sports, training in Nordic skiing and sledge hockey, and even participating in the San Diego Triathlon Challenge with support from the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

“Sports saved me,” he said. “Being active again gave me back a part of myself I thought was lost.”

Long before he joined law enforcement, Holtry earned a degree in English literature and once considered becoming a teacher. But he was drawn to public service and felt called to the front lines.

“I wanted to serve,” he told a citizen’s academy class. “That’s what I was meant to do.”

That calling endured, even after the shooting. Holtry continued to teach self-defense, mentor new officers, and share his experience across the country as a symbol of resilience and purpose.

“Just someone saying, ‘We appreciate your effort,’ that means the world,” he said in an interview. “I’m a public servant. That’s what we do. If you don’t find a high in that, you’re not human.”

Now living with bullet fragments in his body and a steel rod in his leg, Holtry embraces each day with gratitude rather than resentment.

“I don’t hate what happened,” he reflected. “It gave me a second chance to impact lives differently.”

Using a GRIT Freedom Chair, a specialized wheelchair designed for rugged terrain, Holtry continues to explore Idaho’s outdoors, whether fishing, hiking, or speaking to new recruits. Through his journey, he shares a powerful message of courage, perseverance, and transformation.

Sergeant Kevin Holtry’s remarkable story can be heard in full on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on their website as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms.

Attributions

Challenged Athlete

State of Idaho

KTVB

Idaho Statesman

City Of Boise

 



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