Adam Sullentrup
While attempting to arrest a person with outstanding warrants, Adam and his partner were ambushed when the suspect opened fire on the officers. His partner died from his injuries and Adam sustained a traumatic brain injury.
Adam Sullentrup After Being Shot
He Joined the Police Force to Help People
Adam grew up in Washington, MO where he enjoyed fishing, hiking and being in the great
outdoors. After high school, Adam attended a semester at East Central College, but school
wasn’t his favorite thing. He was looking for something that combined his love for physical
activity and social interaction, so he attended the police academy. His wife, Michelle, says,
“Adam joined the police force to help people and always said he loved working for a small
community because he would get to know people.”
March 12, 2023
After serving for nearly 7 years with the New Haven police department, Adam applied to the
Hermann police department where he knew Mason Griffith, who became his training officer.
The two had only worked together for three months when they were sent out on the night of
March 12, 2023 to arrest an individual with active warrants. As they approached, the suspect
opened fire on the officers and fled the scene to a nearby home leading to a 14-hour standoff.
Mason died due to his injuries and Adam’s suffered a severe head injury. He was flown to Craig
Hospital in Colorado, where he endured several difficult surgeries, including a cranioplasty,
craniotomy, and skin graphs. He has battled two serious infections, and still has a final cranioplasty and another skin graft to go. In all, Adam has undergone over 8 months of intensive rehabilitation and recovery.
“We Don’t’ Know What the Future Holds.”
Adam has returned home from Colorado and has outpatient therapy 5 days a week for 5 hours
each day which will continue until his upcoming surgeries. His wife tells us, “After his surgery
will he require more rehab, but we are unsure what that will entail at this time.” The couple is
grateful to be home, saying, “I think Adam and I both have better mental health being
comfortable in our own home, being with our pets, family and friends in a community that we
love.”
“It’s ok to feel defeated. Tomorrow is a new day."
Today, Adam has trouble speaking and communicating. “As Adam’s wife, I’m sure he wants to
have his independence back but we don’t know how much he will recover. When Adam was
injured, we were talking about starting a family but it’s hard to say what our future is going to
look like now. I know we do need a more accessible home to help Adam be independent in the
safest way possible. As a caregiver, knowing Adam can move around freely in the home or do
things safely is a huge burden that would be lifted. There’s a lot of emotions with such an
injury, both good and bad that will come each and every day, and it’s ok to feel defeated.
Tomorrow is a new day.”
The Gary Sinise Foundation looks forward to building Adam an accessible home where he and
his wife can feel safe as they navigate his continued healing and recovery.
