CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — For the first time in history, a Cherry Hills Village police officer has been shot.

Officer Cory Sack was shot in the leg during an encounter with home invasion suspects late Monday night.

On Tuesday night, he was recovering from surgery and is expected to be OK.

“He is a good man and a fantastic officer,” Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap said.

Sack was a deputy in Elbert County before he moved to the Cherry Hills Department seven years ago. A few years ago, Elbert County recognized Sack as deputy of the year.

“He is the life of the party, a huge personality, larger than life,” Heap said. “Cory went in — everybody else is leaving the situation and he went in to take care of it.”

As Sack recovers from surgery at Swedish Medical Center, he is surrounded by family and friends.

Sack joins the growing list of officers injured in the line of duty this year.

While the state does not track the data in real time, records show at least 13 officers wounded in the past nine months.

“It absolutely takes the toll on the guys,” Heap said. “Just the reality — everyday they walk out the door they are putting their life on the line.”

The suspects in the home invasion remain at large.