KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The loss of Wyandotte County Deputies Patrick Rohrer and Theresa "TK" King are ones that retired Chief Deputy Rick Whitby can't bear.
“I miss them. I'll miss them for a while — a long time,” Whitby said tearfully.
He met and worked with both Rohrer and King before he retired from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office after 40 years of service.
“She was always ready to be there for somebody else,” Whitby said.
During his tenure, he oversaw the prisoner transport unit and came to know King well.
"Always had a good word for you when you were working with her, I've traveled with her, I've done training with her, she was actually at my wedding here and her daughter. And she was just one of the best workers you'll want to come across,” Whitby said.
He told 41 Action News moving prisoners outside the confines of a jail can be a dangerous situation.
“Within the last few miles or last few hours, minutes, it's when something is going to happen. If they're going to do it, that's when they're going try,” Whitby said.
And knowing that the accused killer, Antoine Fielder, who stands at 6'3" and weighs 250 pounds, will once again be an inmate at the Wyandotte County Jail, Whitby wants those deputies to be alert.
“Always stay observant and we have policies and procedures in place to help you get through that stuff, follow them,” Whitby said.
But there are no rules as to how one heals or grieves after a loss like last Friday’s, which is why Whitby imparts this simple message.
“Just think of these people, think of the ones that are still out there. Support your people, support your law enforcement, support your fire department they are out there for you,” Whitby said.
A spokesperson for the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office said Friday, Fielder remains at a hospital wing inside the Johnson County jail recovering from his injuries. He's been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in King and Rohrer's deaths.
There's no word yet as to when he'll be transferred to KCK.
Fielder’s bond is currently set at $2 million.
EXTENDED COVERAGE:
Two Wyandotte County sheriff's deputies fatally shot
Slain Wyandotte County Deputy Patrick Rohrer already a superhero to family
Compassion marked slain Wyandotte County Deputy Theresa King's life
Wyandotte County deputy shooting suspect back behind bars
Eyewitness says he felt helpless during Friday's shooting of 2 deputies
