Sergeant Fey retiring from WPD

After more than 14 years with the Wilmington Police Department, Sergeant Mike Fey is retiring.

Sergeant Fey has spent the past four years recovering from a near fatal gunshot wound. After responding to a call at the Houston Moore housing complex in 2005, Fey was involved in a foot chase with a suspect, and was shot.

He said his life changed in an instant. “It’s funny because what happened that night could have happened a million times before,” Fey said.

The last thing Fey remembers from the night he almost died in the line of duty, he was chasing a suspect at the Houston Moore community and everything after that goes blank.

Four years later, after a nearly fatal gunshot wound to the neck, he suffers from short-term memory loss. “I’d say I’m pretty much the same person, but there are little losses here and there.”

Sergeant Fey came close to losing his life, but Rich Matthews was the first WPD officer to die in the line of duty in more than 30 years. “What happened to him, could have happened to me, could have happened to every other officer out there,” Fey said.

Officer Matthews was responding as back up, when he crashed his car and died.

Fey’s family said they’re lucky to have their dad alive today.

A retirement ceremony for Sergeant Fey will take place at the Wilmington Police Department this Friday at 4 pm.