Stephenville police officer fights for his life as family and fellow officers hold vigil.
A beloved Stephenville police officer is fighting for his life at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas where his family and fellow officers are keeping vigil.
Sgt. Steven Watts, a 25-year veteran of the department, is in critical condition.
“Sgt. Watts is a true top-notch professional law enforcement officer who makes a positive difference every day in the lives of those he serves and protects, and it’s an honor to serve with him,” Police Chief Dan Harris told Beneath the Surface News on Sunday.
Sgt. Watts was taken to a Fort Worth hospital on Friday after running a fever and not feeling well all week.
When his conditioned worsened on Saturday, Watts was transported by air to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Lt. James Gresham said doctors have determined that Watts is battling an infection in the lining of his heart.
“He had open heart surgery on Saturday and was given dozens of units of blood,” Gresham said. “The good news today is that the bleeding has stopped, but he remains in a coma and is on life support.
“Our prayer is that his neurological functions will be there when the doctors do more testing.”
Watts is also an Army veteran who served in Korea.
Harris is asking the community for continued prayers for Watts and his family.
“He is the epitome of a police officer who serves his community and the people around him,” Harris said. “He has been serving our community for 25 years and is a perennial leader in our department.
“The love, support and prayers our great city, county and region have shown him and his family and all of us at SPD in this incredibly tough time has been such a needed and overwhelming blessing and we are forever grateful.”
