This sprightly 23-year-old, Officer Nick Wilt, has quite the impressive résumé, having dabbled in more public service roles than anyone else his age. Unfortunately, as irony would have it, his life now hangs in the balance after Monday’s oh-so-not-funny shooting at Old National Bank. Being the responsible public servant he is, Wilt was naturally one of the first responders on the scene, where he was tragically shot in the brain.
As icky as that situation is, it is nice to know that Wilt’s been surrounded by a plethora of loved ones, featuring his doppelgänger twin brother (currently in police academy), his mother, and his girlfriend of a whopping eight months – who happens to be an Oldham medic. And, of course, let’s not forget the representatives from various public service agencies who have been lurking around – talk about a party!
Deborah S. Berry (the Oldham County EMS director, and formerly Wilt’s boss) tells us how she’s been kept in the loop constantly, saying, “People keep texting me to tell me who is watching over him for the next few hours. You can see how beloved he is because I don’t even need to ask for updates, I just keep receiving them.” Aw, isn’t that sweet?
Now, you might be wondering how our brave protagonist Wilt ended up in this tragic predicament. Well, according to Berry, it was hardly a shocker, given that Wilt was always prepared to jump into action for public service. “Knowing his level of professionalism, maturity, and drive for public service, it makes complete sense to me that he was the first one to get close to the shooter,” she said.
Wilt’s recent police adventures have had people calling him a “rookie,” thanks to this being only his fourth-ever shift (post-police academy graduation on March 31), and a “hero,” because despite his greenhorn status, he still managed to help save many lives alongside Cory Galloway as they dealt with Monday’s shooting situation.
Quick but important side note! Unlike most people working in emergency services, who typically juggle one or two jobs, Wilt has surpassed all expectations and earned multiple certifications in the field. Talk about an overachiever! He’s been a commendable dispatcher, a bright-eyed emergency medical technician, a smokin’ hot firefighter (metaphorically speaking), and now, a rookie-hero cop.
Tory Harris, a veteran firefighter of 26 years, quite astoundingly said that if he got a do-over in life, he would want to be Nick Wilt (well, better late than never, right?).
His work ethic and ability to multitask are Wilt’s superpowers, making him stand out among the rest in any role he takes on. Wilt’s former boss, Fire Major Keith Smith, confirmed that he’s “able to multitask like no one else; he reacts calmly but quickly. Nick is special and unique.”
But don’t assume Wilt is all work and no play. Not only does he have an impeccable taste for motorcycles and fast cars, but he’s also quite the matchmaker for his colleagues. According to Darlene Harris, Wilt’s former partner at Oldham County EMS, he’s been the mastermind behind significant relationships.
As of now, Wilt has yet to recover from the consequences of his heroic actions. We’re all rooting for him, and as Darlene Harris movingly put it, “Well, the thing is, he really is just such a fantastic person that I don’t know what else to say.” Well, except that everyone needs a dose of humor and a little bit of positive hero-juju in their lives – and we hope that some of it rubs off on Nick Wilt soon.
