Henry County Deputy Daniel Podsiadly Shares His Story of Survival After Being Shot in the Line of Duty

Accident – Death – Obituary News : On Wednesday, Cpl. Daniel Podsiadly, a Henry County deputy who was shot in the back during a manhunt for a deadly mass shooting suspect, spoke to 11Alive for the first time since the incident. After four months of recovery, Podsiadly is back on light duty, working at a desk instead of in the field with his K-9 companion.

The shooting occurred during a manhunt for Andre Longmore, the suspect in a quadruple homicide in Hampton. Podsiadly, a K-9 handler for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and a member of their fugitive apprehension team, responded to the call and headed to Hampton. On July 15, three women and a man were gunned down in the Dogwood Lakes subdivision, leading law enforcement officers across Henry County to swarm the area in search of the suspect.

Podsiadly encountered the suspect near the Clayton County line on Mt. Zion Parkway. He noticed the suspect behind him in his side mirror and turned around to confront him. As soon as he got out of his patrol car, the suspect started firing at him and another deputy, ambushing them. Podsiadly narrowly escaped serious injury as the bullet missed his spine by an inch and a half, went through his pelvis, and fragmented, causing damage to his abdomen and colon.

After being pulled to safety by another deputy, Podsiadly was rushed to a local hospital and then flown to Grady Memorial Hospital. He underwent surgery and has been on a long road to recovery ever since. Reflecting on the incident, Podsiadly expressed gratitude for his survival and a newfound appreciation for life. He emphasized the importance of cherishing loved ones and being closer to God.

However, the financial burden of the incident has been overwhelming for Podsiadly. He has only been receiving two-thirds of his paycheck since July due to what he described as an inadequate worker compensation plan in Georgia. His wife had to take a month off work to care for him, adding to the financial strain. This situation has shed light on the need for an overhaul of Georgia’s worker compensation plan to better support first responders.

In response to Podsiadly’s situation, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office is organizing a charity golf tournament on November 13 at Crystal Lake Golf & Country Club in Hampton. The tournament aims to raise funds for Podsiadly and his wife to help alleviate their financial burdens. Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett emphasized that the event is not just about financial assistance but also raising awareness about the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.

There are various ways to support Podsiadly and participate in the tournament. Individuals can sign up to play individually or with a team, become sponsors, or make direct donations to help Podsiadly. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office hopes that through these efforts, they can provide much-needed assistance to Podsiadly and his family while also addressing the larger issue of worker compensation for first responders in Georgia..