WASHINGTON, Mo. – More than a year and a half after being shot in the line of duty, a former Hermann police officer is continuing his law enforcement career.

Adam Sullentrup is joining the New Haven Police Department as a public relations specialist, Christopher Neace, the department’s incoming police chief, said in a Facebook post.

“I am confident that he will make a profoundly positive impact on our community,” Neace said.

Sullentrup and Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith were shot on March 12, 2023, at a Casey’s General Store in Hermann while attempting to arrest Kenneth Lee Simpson on outstanding warrants in Franklin and Warren counties.

Griffith was rushed to Hermann Hospital but later died from his injuries. He was 34.

Sullentrup, who was shot in the head, was taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment and survived.

Simpson surrendered to authorities the next day following a lengthy standoff with a SWAT team and officers from several different police departments.

After three weeks in the ICU, Sullentrup was transferred to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, in April.

Sullentrup returned home in late November 2023 after a months-long rehab stint.

Meanwhile, Simpson will face a jury trial, slated to begin on Jan. 20, 2026.