Mukilteo Police Chief Michael Murphy is recovering in Providence Hospital after hitting a deer while riding his motorcycle.

The chief and his wife, Becky, were returning from a road trip throughout the Northwestern states, and had just eaten lunch outside of Arlington when the accident happened.

“The chief won; the deer lost,” Crime Prevention Officer Cheol Kang said.

The chief sustained a dislocated and severely fractured shoulder, broken wrist and broken ankle.

“He’s recovering really well; he’s in good spirits and able to joke around,” Kang said. “He’s his usual self.”

That’s a good thing, considering there’s talk of a pair of antlers circulating among those visiting him in the hospital.

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows Murphy to hear it’s quieter around police headquarters in his absence.

Murphy will be in rehabilitation for about five weeks, and hopes to return to work by mid-September, Kang said.

Murphy’s wife was riding behind and hit him when he hit the deer, Kang said.

“She was lucky, you could say, she landed on him and he cushioned her fall.”

Becky Murphy was not injured, Kang said.

Chief Murphy was taken to nearby Cascade Valley Hospital, and then flown to Harborview when doctors saw the extent of his shoulder injury, Kang said.

Since the wreck, he’s undergone surgeries to his shoulder, ankle and wrist.  He moved to Providence in Everett once the complicated surgeries were completed.

“He doesn’t remember much about what happened,” Kang said. “We’re glad he can continue his rehab here in Everett.”

Murphy will likely be in a wheelchair when he returns to work, since his injuries will make it difficult to use crutches, Kang said.

It wasn’t clear how damaged Murphy’s bike was in the accident, but his riding days are over – temporarily, Kang said.

“Knowing him, he’ll want to ride again as soon as he’s able to,” he said.