Source: The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.迷你倉新蒲崗Sept. 04--Portland police Officer Paul Meyer has returned to work in the Police Bureau's armory on a part-time, limited basis, 9 1/2 months after he was paralyzed from the waist down when a tree struck him during police ATV training.The bureau welcomed Meyer back to work on Tuesday, followed by a surprise luncheon."It's an honor to welcome Paul back to work," Police Chief Mike Reese said Wednesday, in a prepared statement. "Paul's tremendous skills and knowledge are an asset to the Police Bureau, and I'm excited to have Paul back and to see him finish his career as a Portland Police officer."Meyer was paralyzed from the belly button down Nov. 19 after a tree fell on him during a police ATV training exercise. A 110-foot tree had snapped, striking Meyer in the head and upper back as he was doing ATV training drills on a remote part of Hayden Island. The officers were readying to break for lunch, riding on a trail toward their cars when the tree suddenly split.Meyer, 43, had been wearing his own helmet. It cracked from the blow. Firefighters had to rescue Meyer on an ATV because of the trail's remoteness. He underwent four hours of surgery. He had sustained several crushed thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in his mid and lower back, and fractured cervical vertebrae.Meyer, a 20-year bureau veteran who was a lead instructor on special weapons and an active member of the tactical squad, is now confined to a wheelchair.In the bureau's armory, he'll be working four hours a day to start, four days a week. His job will include repairing firearms, researching best police training pr迷你倉出租ctices and police equipment, writing training plans and special orders and classroom instruction on use of force topics, said Sgt. Pete Simpson."Essentially, everything he was doing before except those specific things that would require the use of his legs," Simpson said.Paul's wife, Mary Meyer, credited her husband's doctors, therapists and faith for helping in his recovery."After facing overwhelming challenges, Paul's incredible progress can be attributed to the exceptional care he has received from his many doctors and therapists and from his faith in God," said Mary Meyer. "It can also be attributed to the immense support from family, friends and the Portland Police Bureau. Paul truly has a spirit that will not be broken. There was never a moment that Paul did not think about returning to work. Not many people can honestly say they love their job, but Paul truly does."Mary and Paul, along with their two sons, Russell and Matthew, say they have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from police bureau members."We will never forget that an officer was outside Paul's hospital room for 51 days. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day," said Mary Meyer. "It gave us such a sense of relief and gave Paul the reassurance that there was always a familiar face available at any time, day or night. Life will never be as it was, but we are confident that with everyone's support, Paul will continue to amaze us with his speed of recovery."--Maxine Bernstein.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at .oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉
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