Secret Service agent wounded by John Hinckley Jr. supports plan for shooter's freedom

American politician US President Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004) smiles and waves as he leaves the Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington DC, March 30, 1981. Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy is on the right, in blue suit. Photo credit CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

By Steve Miller

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The former police official who took a bullet for President Reagan more than 40 years ago says it looks like the mental health experts have been right about giving John Hinckley Jr. increasing amounts of freedom.

“They gotta be right on this one, and I hope they are,” Tim McCarthy tells WBBM Newsradio.

He was the Secret Service agent wounded on March 30, 1981 in Hinckley’s unsuccessful assassination attempt on Reagan.

“To be perfectly honest with you, from what I’ve seen by Hinckley’s conduct so far, it looks like he is — I’m certainly not a psychiatrist or have any expertise in mental health — but so far, so good,” McCarthy said. “They seem to have been right so far, and I hope it continues that way.”

McCarthy says he did his job protecting the president that day.

“I don’t want people to think that because I did it right that day I’m perfect—far from it,” he said.

He was the Orland Park police chief before retiring and is now president of Sentinel Security.

He says the shooting changed his life.

“No one knew who Tim McCarthy was, I can assure you of that,” McCarthy said. “And then the following day, everyone knew.”

Hinckley will be freed from court oversight this month as planned, a federal judge said Wednesday, capping Hinckley’s four-decade journey through the legal and mental health systems.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman had freed Hinckley in September from all remaining restrictions but said his order wouldn't take effect until June 15. Wednesday’s final hearing was scheduled to ensure Hinckley was continuing to do well in the community in Virginia where he has lived for years.

Contributing: Associated Press