Patrolman Keith Broady and Corporal Dan Lawhorn, who returned to the Jeffersonville Police Department on Monday nearly nine months after being shot in the line of duty on Feb. 19, spoke about returning to work in a press release from the city Thursday.
“I had set a goal for myself of (returning to work) around October,” said Broady, 33.
Lawhorn, 40, said he initially questioned whether he’d ever work as a police officer again. “I knew once I got out of the hospital, I’d come back,” he said.
Lawhorn, a Providence High School graduate who joined the department in February 1998, said returning to police headquarters on Monday really wasn’t an emotional experience for him.
“I didn’t feel any different,” he said. “I wanted to come back. I was ready to come back. I’m not one to sit around much.”
Broady, a Jeffersonville High School graduate who became a police officer in June 2004, said, “I’m pretty much the same. I was looking forward to coming back and being around the guys who’ve supported us.”
Both officers see returning to light duty as a positive step in an ongoing process toward their full recoveries, the release said. Neither is willing to guess when they’ll be back in uniform.
Broady said, “I have no estimate on that. I’m still working on strengthening and conditioning and mental reconditioning.”
Lawhorn said, “I’m going to leave that up to the doctors. I’m nowhere near 100 percent. I’m maybe at 80 percent. I’ve still got severe nerve damage in my leg.”
The officers remain appreciative of the community’s support for them during the past nine months.
“Awesome,” said Lawhorn.
“Phenomenal,” said Broady.
Broady said people still stop him and ask about his and Lawhorn’s recoveries. “I think people realize now there’s more to being a police officer than writing tickets and taking people to jail,” he said.
“I’m just amazed,” said Lawhorn. “The money that’s been raised for us was a godsend.”
Broady and Lawhorn were wounded on the evening of Feb. 19, when they were ambushed while investigating a report of suspicious activity at Jeffersonville’s Motel 6. Broady’s received wounds to his torso after being hit in an area that was unprotected by the body armor he was wearing. Lawhorn was shot multiple times in the leg.
The alleged shooter — 37-year-old Robert Datillo — died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Feb. 20, following an hours-long standoff with Louisville Metro Police.
Clark County
JPD officers speak out about returning to work
Pair were shot at Motel 6 in February
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Jeffersonville mayor, council disagree on hiring
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Jeffersonville mayor, council disagree on hiring
