Video: Florida Officers Lured into Ambush by 911 Caller
Officers Benjamin Metz, 38, and John Schwarze, 45, a K-9 handler for Lake Wales Police Department, were wounded, Velasquez said. The bullet that struck Schwarze was stopped by his duty belt.
Two Lake Wales, Fla., officers were injured in a shooting Tuesday after a 59-year-old man lured police to his home with a 911 call and opened fire, according to law enforcement.
John Goepferich immediately began shooting when officers arrived about 6 p.m. at his home at 743 Hillside Ave. in Lake Wales, Chief Chris Velasquez said.
Officers fired back and a gun battle began. More Lake Wales officers and Polk County deputies arrived to assist, bringing about 50 members of law enforcement to the property. They exchanged gunfire with Goepferich for about 15 minutes, WFTS TV reports.
Officers Benjamin Metz, 38, and John Schwarze, 45, a K-9 handler for Lake Wales Police Department, were wounded, Velasquez said. The bullet that struck Schwarze was stopped by his duty belt. "It was a miracle," said Chief Velasquez at a news conference Wednesday.
Metz was shot in the neck, but was treated and released from the hospital.
Goepferich was shot once in the right arm and once in the left side of the back. His injuries were non-life-threatening.
More Patrol
From the Show Floor: T2 Systems
Learn about T2 Systems and its electronic parking enforcement solutions. Retired Chief John Holland outlines the benefits of using such a system to manage parking enforcement.
Read More →
Texas Pollice Department Adds Reconview Tower
A Texas police chief shares how the Decatur Police Department will use its new Reconview observation tower.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: Traka
Join POLICE as we visit with Steve Atkinson of Traka and learn about the company’s asset management cabinets and key lockers.
Read More →
Team Wendy Shares New DREW Data During Personal Armour Systems Symposium
Team Wendy shared data about DREW, a biofidelic helmet-test rig built to simulate real head-to-ground falls and capture both linear and rotational head motion, during the recent Personal Armour Systems Symposium in Belgium.
Read More →
2026 US Police and Fire Championships to Unite First Responders in San Diego for 59th Annual Event
The 2026 US Police and Fire Championships, featuring more than 35 Olympic-style events and new competitions, will return to San Diego, California.
Read More →
FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends to Host Live Audience for National First Responders Day
In honor of National First Responders Day, FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends will host a live audience made up of first responders and their families. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel have been invited to attend the live program.
Read More →
How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Axon Ecosystem Advancements Connect Critical Moments of Public Safety Response
Last week, during IACP 2025, Axon unveiled what it called the next evolution of its connected public safety ecosystem. Key launches included Prepared by Axon, new Axon Assistant and Axon Air Drone as First Responder (DFR) capabilities, and Community Shield and Community Link.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →
Is Your Duty Holster Duty Rated?
The first – and worst – time I had to fight to keep my gun, my holster and duty belt held up far better than my training did.
Read More →