Deputy's Shooting Death Prompts Sheriff to Review Bulletproof Vest Policy

Sheriff Litchard Hurley originally said his officers were "encouraged" to wear vests. But that policy could change afterthe shooting death of Deputy Toney Summey on Sunday.

"I don't know of anything (the officers) could have done anydifferent," Hurley said. "Believe me. I've asked myself severaltimes since (Sunday) night if there's anything we could have donedifferent as far as training."

Many officers say there's no such thing as a "routine" call anymore and that they need to always expect the unexpected. They also know that all the training there is doesn't necessarily prevent incidents like Sunday's, and all they can do is be as careful as they can.

Another deputy, Nathan Hollingsworth, was wounded in Sunday's shooting,which occurred when the officers tried to serve a man with arrestwarrants for domestic abuse and worthless checks.

Authorities said Alexander Charles Polke, 36, of Franklinville,is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting. He was deniedbond Monday and will be transferred to Central Prison in Raleigh.

Authorities said Polke managed to get Summey's gun from himduring a scuffle and shot Summey, who died at the scene.Preliminary autopsy results show that Summey, 41, was shot once inthe neck and twice in the abdomen.

Polke then allegedly shot Hollingsworth in the arm beforesurrendering to authorities.

Hurley said Hollingsworth was wearing a bulletproof vest, butSummey was not.

Few sheriff's offices in the area require officers to wearbulletproof vests.

Rockingham County adopted such a policy in 2001. Davidson Countyhas required officers to wear vests since 1994, but Capt. ChrisCoble said officers are allowed to work without vests whentemperatures exceed 85 degrees.