Deltona, Florida: A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputy is expected to make a full recovery after being shot Monday evening during what the agency described as an assault and battery investigation at a home on Candler Drive. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene, the sheriff’s office said.
According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Jose Rivera and a deputy trainee were conducting an investigation outside a residence on Candler Drive at about 4:30 p.m. when they encountered the subject of the investigation, Luis Diaz Polanco. The sheriff’s office said the deputies attempted to speak with Polanco, who went back inside the home.
Investigators said a second deputy moved toward the back of the house in case the suspect attempted to leave through a rear exit. Instead, the sheriff’s office said Polanco came back out the front door armed with a handgun and began firing.
Sheriff’s officials said fellow deputies pulled Rivera to safety and transported him to Halifax Health and UF Health Medical Center of Deltona, where he was stabilized before being flown by the agency helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. The sheriff’s office said Rivera is expected to make a full recovery.
The sheriff’s office said Rivera was struck in the leg and then injured again when a round hit his chest-mounted body camera and ricocheted, with the agency describing the second strike as a ricochet off the camera. Sheriff Mike Chitwood publicly credited the camera with likely saving the deputy’s life, describing how the equipment absorbed or deflected a shot headed toward the deputy’s chest.
Polanco was taken into custody outside the residence and was not injured during the incident. The agency said he was facing attempted murder charges as detectives continued interviews and the investigation moved forward.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Our data shows the majority of violence against officers involves an amplified event, information known prior to the contact that should trigger a more tactical approach.
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Move off the fatal funnel. Do not stay centered on doors and windows. Work from cover and offset positions with clear lanes.
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Use contact and cover roles with deliberate communication. If one officer moves to the rear, establish clear responsibilities and radio updates to avoid blind spots.
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Rehearse immediate casualty care under fire. Tourniquet access, placement speed, and buddy aid drills save minutes when seconds matter.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
