Everything we know about the murder of an Oakland County deputy sheriff

OAKLAND COUNTY, Michigan. — An Oakland County sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed Saturday night was remembered by colleagues as a hard-working police officer and devoted father and husband.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard held a press conference at noon on Sunday, June 23, to update the public on the shooting. Bouchard said Deputy Bradley Reckling was working for the auto theft unit and was following a stolen vehicle in Detroit when the suspects opened fire, hitting and killing him multiple times.

Reckling was one of three officers from the auto theft unit searching for a stolen 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle was stolen from Red Oaks Waterpark in Oakland County sometime between 1:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

Bouchard said Reckling was in an unmarked vehicle when he found the stolen vehicle and began pursuing it, meaning no dashcam footage is available. The preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle suddenly stopped, the occupants of the stolen vehicle got out and opened fire on Deputy Reckling. He was hit multiple times, including in the head and upper body.

“The car suddenly stopped. People got out of the stolen vehicle and opened fire on our deputy. It was an ambush. This obviously set off a whole series of things. The deputy was hit in the head, chest and torso area. The 911 call went out at 10:50 p.m. Of course, the Detroit police and MSP were on the area very quickly, and I want to thank and commend them for that,” said Bouchard.

The 911 call came in at 10:50 p.m. Detroit police and Michigan State Police rushed to the scene and set up a perimeter. Three people were arrested within the perimeter. Bouchard said more information about the suspects would come from Detroit police.

Bouchard calls for support and funding for mental health

Bouchard called for more resources to support staff with mental health issues.

“Looking into the faces of our people and seeing their pain, it was hard for them. You know, we lost Deputy (Eric) Overall, then we had COVID, then we had Oxford, then a lot of those same people went to MSU, then they were at the water playground. And now this. And it’s kind of — it’s like a boxer — you wonder how many punches they can take and still stand. But first of all, I want to say I’m super proud of our people, how they’ve stood, how they’ve shown up and continued to do amazing things every day. But we need to support them. I said after the water playground, we need more resources for the community as a whole, resources for mental health. But we need them for public safety. Peer-to-peer programs are severely underfunded in this country. We know there have been horrific line-of-duty deaths in the last few years, ambushes have increased dramatically, now we have another example of that. What most people don’t realize is that the number of police suicides has exceeded line-of-duty deaths in recent years. The pressure on law enforcement and public safety in general is enormous and taking its toll. And we need resources.”

Bouchard called on government officials to provide more funding for first responders. He asked the county commission and county executive’s office to apply for an emergency loan to hire another full-time peer-to-peer. He said they currently have one, and the reason is because he eliminated another position. He said having only one peer-to-peer on staff at the nearly 1,500-person agency means the department is severely underfunded.

“They’re dealing with different events every day. We’ve dealt with several car accident deaths in the last seven days. An investigation into a child case where the child died from abuse. They see these things every day and you can’t forget them. So we have to provide them with support so they can process that. That’s what people can do for public safety.”

In memory of Representative Bradley Reckling

According to Bouchard, Reckling has a pregnant wife and a one-year-old, a four-year-old and a five-year-old child.

His family wanted the public to know from people who had worked with Reckling who he was and what he was like. Reckling had spent a lot of time at the Rochester Hills substation and had only recently transferred to the auto theft division.

During the press conference, Bouchard read the following statements from Reckling’s colleagues:

Head of the Rochester Hills Substation: “Detective Brad Reckling was one of the best deputies and detectives I have ever worked with. He was one of the hardest working police officers I knew. I and many others will miss him greatly. He touched so many with his larger than life personality. Brad was on patrol in Rochester Hills before joining our detective agency there, and there was a bank robbery there that some thought was unsolvable. Brad spent hours researching the vehicle, eventually found it for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and solved the case. And that was just one example of Brad’s work ethic.”

Deputy Nicholas Bohun: “Brad was always there to help. He loved his family more than anything. He was a great cop, but an even better friend, father and husband.”

Deputy Nathan Rogers: Brad and I grew up together in this department. From working in the prison to studying for promotions to persevering and graduating from the academy together. Brad was one of the most selfless coworkers and one of the most devoted husbands I have ever seen to Jackie and the best father to his girls. He can only be described as the best human being.

Deputy Matthew Morrison: Brad was a loving husband, father and great friend. He loved the outdoors. He was a great fisherman, loved to hunt and enjoyed working his farm and raising animals. Brad spent several months remodeling his home to give his wife and three daughters the most beautiful place to call home. Anyone who knew Brad knows it doesn’t take long before he starts cracking jokes and making him laugh. He was a great worker and great friend who would do anything for anyone. He was a prime example of what a great father, husband and friend is. He is loved by many and will be truly missed.

Bouchard said anyone who wants to support Reckling’s family during this time can donate to the charity Mission Oakland. He said 100% of donations go to the family with no fees or deductions. People who want to donate should add a note that the money is for Deputy Reckling.