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And the family of Capac Police Chief Raymond (Ricky) Hawks, 64, is surrounded by a widespread outpouring of support and love while he fights for his life from the unexpected blast of a man's rifle Wednesday afternoon.

Hawks underwent his third operation Friday morning.

"He's out of surgery and the next 12 hours are so important," said family friend Sharon Edwards.

In another hospital Friday morning, alleged gunman Robert Burke, 50, of Capac, underwent an operation for a heart condition.

"When he's medically released, he'll be arraigned on two charges of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony," said St. Clair County Sheriff's spokesman Gary Albrecht.

Problems began about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when Hawks attempted to pull over Burke for erratic driving. It's suspected that instead of stopping, Burke drove to his William G. Drive home, locked himself inside and wouldn't answer the door. Hawks and St. Clair County Sheriff's deputy Tim O'Boyle were fired on by a rifle while in the process of towing Burke's car away.

"I'm dying; I'm dying," said Hawks radioing for help to St. Clair County 9-1-1 dispatcher Don Ponke right after he was shot. "I'm sorry man. I can't breath. I can't move. I can't breath."

O'Boyle was treated and released from a Port Huron Hospital. Hawks, whose condition was upgraded to serious, remained in a medically induced coma at press time Friday.

He turned 64 on Thursday while in the hospital.

"We sang happy birthday to him at a candle light vigil at the Capac Police Station," said family friend Kelly Cramer. "The whole parking lot was full."

Support for Hawks' wife Vicky and their four adult children has been overflowing miles beyond the Capac border. Radio Station WYCD 99.5, in Southfield, plans to hold a birthday party for the police chief as soon as he recovers.

"We started talking about it on the air and hearing the 9-1-1 call ripped our hearts out," said Steve Grunwald of the Dr. Don, Rachael and Grunwald show. "I said we should have a big party for him, and the listeners took over from there."

The switchboard lit up and the country music station was flooded with calls offering ideas and support.

"Coyote Joes in Shelby Township volunteered to have it. We figured it was half way between Capac and Detroit," said Grunwald. "The wife of the Shelby Police Chief called and offered help. We had one person who volunteered to give his wife a massage. We got so many phone calls, we decided to talk about it again on Monday. We'll celebrate when he's recovered."

And Capac hopes to celebrate the return of their police chief. Blue ribbons decorate each light post in the village.

"They're police blue, and will be on until he's home," said Cramer. "Flowers and cards are on his police cruiser."

The Capac Police Department staff is redistributing each of their hours until Hawks returns. The station has been inundated with calls of concern.

"There was one troubled young man who came in this morning and wanted to go to the hospital," said Capac Police Administrative Assistant SharAn Revitzer. "He wanted to make sure the chief knew he didn't deserve to be shot."

The youth added that Hawks treated him to a lunch at McDonald's restaurant one time when he took him to jail.

"But that's the kind of man he is; he's a good man," said Revitzer.

Listen to the 99.5 WYCD morning show or phone (248) 799-0600 for birthday party plans.