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Hawks is fighting for his life from an April 16 blast of gunfire suspected to have come from the rifle of Robert Burke, 50, of Capac. St. Clair County Sheriff's deputy Tim O'Boyle has recovered from minor injuries suffered during the same attack.

Hawks has undergone three operations and doctors have not yet been able to remove the ventilator. He remains in a medically-induced coma.

"They've tried several times to pull it out," said family friend Kelly Cramer. "But it's not been the right time yet. It's a long waiting period."

Doctors hope that Hawks will become more responsive soon.

"He's had three major surgeries and they're hoping he's working his way out of all the medication," Cramer said.

As they wait for Hawks to mend, family and friends are receiving comfort from people that have traveled from miles away to visit the Port Huron Hospital.

"The outpouring has been so great," Cramer said. "People have come from all over to tell their stories - how the chief saved their life, how he went on his own time to find a runaway child. It means a lot."

Suspected shooter Burke remains hospitalized following surgery for a heart condition and has not yet been charged, said St. Clair County Sheriff's spokesman Gary Albrecht.

At its Monday evening meeting, the Capac Village Council voted to conduct interviews for an interim administrator until Hawks returns.