By Chelsia Rose Marcius and Graham Rayman
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — A Brooklyn cop who suffered brain damage when he was dragged by a car last year was released from rehab Monday to applause from 200 cops.
Officer Dalsh Veve, 36, was wheeled out of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey with his 3-year-old daughter Darshee sitting on his lap.
His wife, Esther, stood close by his wheelchair, smiling as the bagpipes played.
“He’s made tremendous progress,” said Dr. Neil Jasey, who has been treating Veve since he arrived at the center.
“When he first came, he was unresponsive, non-communicative. Now he’s talking, he’s walking with assistance, he’s really doing well.”
Jasey said Veve is “worlds different” from when he first arrived at the rehab center.
“He had a severe traumatic injury, fractured brain injury — there are many complications that go along with that,” he said.
“He’s been through a lot but he’s come through nicely...he can communicate, he can read, he can write a little bit.”
Police Commissioner James O’Neill and police union head Patrick Lynch clapped along with the other officers — which included men and women from the 67th Precinct, the Haitian American Officers Association, the DEA, PBA, and the 67th Detective Squad.
“First couple of times we were here, (it) didn’t look good at all. It really didn’t; (he) wasn’t making a lot of progress,” O’Neill said. “But I came here about two months ago and (was) absolutely amazed.”
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Veve, wearing a white polo shirt and a blue and gold NYPD ball cap, gave a small smile. He was then wheeled into a silver minivan that drove off as the officers continued to clap.
O’Neill said Veve’s wife, Esther, asked him to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Kessler and at Kings County Hospital for their efforts.
The commissioner said Veve seemed like he was in good spirits when he met with him earlier today before they wheeled him out.
“He’s whispering, he just gave us a thumbs up, and we’re hoping that he continues to progress and I think he will,” O’Neill said.
Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker said he marveled at Esther’s “steadfast faith.”
“Just a few months ago Dalsh’s condition seemed really dire and almost irreversible,” he said. “It’s not the case it seemed, and I think that’s in large part because of Darshee, their little girl, (and) certainly in terms of Esther’s support.”
Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said Veve’s improvement demonstrates the strength of city cops and their families.
“Let’s not forget, the struggle still goes on, let’s keep him in our thoughts and prayers for a day when we see him walk,” he said.
Deputy Inspector Joseph Gulotta, Veve’s commander at the 67, said “Dalsh wouldn’t be where he (is) today without the outpouring of love from the community, from the East Flatbush community.”
Veve will starting outpatient therapy Tuesday at the Kessler Institute. Jasey said Veve still has a ways to go.
“There are a lot of (hurdles), he has a long road ahead. He’s got a lot of intense therapy he’s got to go through to continue to improve. But thankfully he’s got a lot of great support from the NYPD, from his family.”
He was critically injured during a car stop in East Flatbush on June 3.
As Veve questioned the people inside the stolen Honda Civic, driver Justin Murrell peeled off, dragging the officer more than two blocks down Tilden Ave.
Veve fired his gun twice before he was finally thrown from the car when Murrell, 15, made a sharp right turn on E. 53rd St.
Murrell suffered a gunshot wound to his face and was later charged as an adult with attempted murder.
Veve began showing improvement in early January. In March he began recognizing people who were visiting him, police sources said.
©2018 New York Daily News