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K-9 deputy suffers ruptured aneurysm
Published November 7, 2009
ANGLETON — Co-workers of Rick Opperud were shocked to hear the K-9 officer and 18-year deputy had an aneurysm rupture while training drug dogs in Louisiana, and are hopeful for his recovery and return to work.
“It was horrible — devastating,” Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office narcotics Lt. Chris Reioux said of the aneurysm suffered by his partner Wednes-day. “It’s like it’s not real. We drive to work expecting to see his car parked where it normally is. It’s like a bad dream.”
A cerebral aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain, according to information at WedMD.com. In rare cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the skull, according to the Web site.
A popular member of the department, Opperud was off-duty and teaching a dog-handling class in Shreveport, La., when he fell ill, Sheriff Charles Wagner said. Opperud is a nationally known police dog trainer, Wagner said.
“Night before last, he wasn’t feeling well and fell out at his hotel room,” Wagner said of the incident about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Opperud was taken to a Shreveport hospital.
“They did numerous tests to find out it was an aneurysm,” Wagner said. “The bleeding has stopped and they got CAT scan results today (Friday). He’s stable now, and they’re flying him to Hobby Airport in Houston where he’ll be taken to Methodist Hospital.”
Opperud was scheduled to undergo surgery Friday night, Wagner said.
Opperud came to the sheriff’s office from the Freeport Police Department in March 1992. He’s worked in the jail, in patrol and moved to narcotics in 1996, Sheriff’s Capt. Randy Rhyne said. He helped form the Brazoria County K-9 Association, which includes all county departments with K-9 officers.
He’s a certified trainer for the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association and serves on its board of directors.
“He’s a good officer,” Rhyne said. “He’s very dedicated to making sure everybody who has a dog used for patrol is extremely well-trained.”
Sheriff’s office employees held a prayer circle Thursday afternoon for Opperud, Wagner said.
“We ask everybody to keep him in their prayers and hopefully everything will be fine,” he said.
Angleton Police Sgt. Quenton Rush has worked with Opperud and wishes him a speedy recovery.
“Rick is a fighter and we have no doubt he will pull through,” Rush said. “He’s a fellow officer, so this hits close to home. Our thoughts and prayers are with he and his family.”
John Lowman covers Brazoria County for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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