By Police1 Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. — A cop is learning how to live without the use of his legs after being paralyzed in a freak accident in November in which a 110-foot section of a dead tree snapped, landing on him during an ATV training exercise.
Officer Paul Meyer, a 20-year veteran of the Portland Police Department, had been an active member of the tactical squad and lead instructor on special weapons before the accident, according to Oregon Live.
Now, his wife—who quit her part-time job to become his caretaker — does everything from helping him get dressed to getting in and out of the car. A nurse comes every morning to help him shower and use the bathroom.
“You get in this kind of work so you’re there for others,” Meyer told the website. “To be in a position where you have to accept help, it’s hard. It’s humbling. You feel unworthy of it.”
Meyer, his wife and two sons have moved into a temporary home that they’ve customized to fit his needs. However, they plan to move back into their old home, according to the article.
Meyer is on disability leave, collecting 75 percent of his base salary. He’s eager to return to work, ideally as an officer supervising the police armory.