Community shows love for injured Mount Vernon police officer, still in 'bad shape' but improving

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- The Mount Vernon Police Department says the community support for their injured officer is taking their breath away.

Flowers, cards, even cash, are pouring into the department for officer Mike “Mick” McClaughry. The department is so overwhelmed they had to assign an officer to manage all the gifts.

“It can easily fill a couple of rooms and the value on that is priceless,” Lt. Chris Cammock said.



Hundreds of cards and emails are pouring into Harborview Medical Center, where the 31-year veteran officer is fighting for his life after being shot in the head while on duty last Thursday night. He is listed in critical but stable condition.

The outpouring of love is giving family members hope.

McClaughry’s daughter April showed off some of the support on her Facebook page on Monday, thanking the community and updating people on her father’s condition.

“He is still in very bad shape and he won’t be awake for quite some time but the prognosis is better than worse.”

“They feel like his prognosis from ... last week to ... last night was a huge improvement,” Cammock said.

“Everybody is praying for him, everybody,” Laura Ibarra said.

Ibarra lives across from where police say Ernesto Lee Rivas Sr. barricaded himself in his home with two teenage accomplices last Thursday.

Authorities say Rivas fired countless rounds out of his home, hitting McClaughry in the head. Other bullets went flying into Ibarra’s home.

Ibarra counted the bullets for Q13 News on Monday. A total of 10 bullets pierced her home; two of them hit her daughter’s mattress.

She’s shocked over the close call and saddened because she says she’s related to one of the juvenile suspects.

“He didn’t have the professional help after he lost his mom and that affected him a lot,” Ibarra said.

Ibarra doesn’t know how her family member got involved with Rivas but she says people were always going in and out of the suspect’s home.

“I don’t want him back in the neighborhood, I want a better life and be safe around here,” Ibarra said.

She’s also hoping for the officer to have a full recovery.

“That he come out OK, that he comes back to his family,” Ibarra said.

The Skagit County Prosecutor's Office has until Tuesday to file charges.