By Kim janssen
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — Officer Densey Cole II remembers all too well the night his neck was broken in a car accident as he rushed to the scene of a burglary:
The brazen callousness of the passers-by who on May 27, 2009, exacerbated Cole’s spinal injury by rolling his body as he lay trapped in his police SUV. Stealing his gun and wallet, they left Cole a quadriplegic.
But the 17-year-veteran was all smiles Sunday as more than 1,000 friends and fellow officers honored him at a benefit in south suburban Merrionette Park.
“As I was lying there, I just hoped I’d live to see my kids again,” the father of two girls said at the fund-raiser at 115 Bourbon Street. “I’m just happy to be alive and to see all my friends again.”
One of the alleged robbers, Rasaan Shannon, has been charged with strong-arm robbery, disarming a peace officer and unlawful use of a weapon.
Cole, who worked in the Morgan Park District, has been rehabilitating in the west suburbs and has regained some movement in all of his limbs.
His fellow officers Marikay O’Brien and Monica Ortiz organized the benefit to help him with expenses, including adapting his home in Beverly for wheelchair use.
“It’s a dangerous job -- we’ve lost three police officers in this year alone,” O’Brien said. “As a cop, you have to be able to trust that person sitting next to you in the squad car, and this benefit is part of that.”
Donations can be made at www.denseycole.com, or by checks made payable to “Densey Cole Benefit” at any branch of Archer Bank.
Photo: Jean Lachat, Sun-Times; Densey Cole II is surrounded by friends and family, including mom Louise (right), at Sunday’s benefit.
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