Houston Officer Up for 'America's Most Wanted' Award

HOUSTON - For nearly 30 years he protected and served you. Now Houston Police Officer Rick Salter needs your help. He's up for a national award, and the only way he can get it is if you vote.

You may remember this 55-year-old HPD narcotics officer. He was shot in March of 2009 while arresting a drug suspect in Southwest Houston.

"I was shot just under my right eye, in the right cheek. The bullet cut my carotid artery. That caused me to have two strokes which paralyzed my left arm and left leg and I'm blind in my right eye," says Salter.

The bullet also paralyzed his vocal chords. He's had seven surgeries in one year.

"I just had my jaw replaced about a week ago," says the retired officer.

After 28 years on the force, he was forced to leave a career he loved.

"Everything I did before is gone. I can't do anything I had done before," says Salter.

Life changed for Officer Salter when he led a team of officers into a house in Southeast Houston to arrest a suspected drug dealer.

It was a $25,000 home rigged with a $30,000 surveillance system. He was watching the officers every move.

"He just layed inside waiting for us to open the door to get in. When we did, When we got in he jumped out and shot me. I just remember seeing a bright light," says Salter.

The shooting hasn't only taken a physical but an emotional toll.

"My wife had to quit her job. Everyday now, every hour of every day, every hour of every night all she does is take care of me. My children are the same way" says Salter. "If I had been shot and killed, I would have been buried or whatever and it would have been over with and time will have healed everything but when you're left in this condition time doesn't heal it."

Lieutenant Dennis Gafford nominated his friend and fellow officer for the America's Most Wanted All-Star Award.

Officer Salter can only win if you vote for him.

"It's very simple. It takes just a minute. You can vote everyday, once a day. It's a simple thing we can do to show our support for an officer who gave an awful lot to provide protection for the city," says Gafford.

If Officer Salter is chosen he'll win $10,000 and a weekend get-a-way. Here on this website --- you can vote everyday until Salter is chosen.

Rather than having the memory of a bullet ending his career, Officer Salter says winning this award would make a great ending.

On the web: http://www.amw.com/allstar/2010/