Officer recovering after hitting horse with patrol car

A father of four who works two law enforcement jobs was seriously injured after hitting a horse with his patrol car Monday night in Carroll County.

Daryl Browning, a full-time Haralson County sheriff’s deputy for five years, also works as a Mount Zion police officer. That’s where he was working when his patrol car struck a horse, breaking his hip and bones in his face, Haralson County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jim Beck said.

Officer Daryl Browning was driving a Mount Zion police car when he hit a horse Monday night. (Credit: Haralson County Sheriff's Office)

Beck admitted many deputies work side jobs because the county can’t afford to pay them what they’re worth.

“He’s a great young guy with a strong work ethic,” Beck said.

Browning is the sole provider for his family, Beck said.

While Browning was in stable condition Wednesday at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, doctors were still deciding whether he would need hip and facial surgeries.

As of Wednesday evening, Browning’s swelling had gone down and doctors hadn’t used any pins or hardware to heal the hip.

“The nature of the break is that it would be better to heal on its own,” Beck said.

A GoFundMe account set up to help his family already has raised more than $4,000.

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