Exactly one year ago Tuesday, Officer James O'Donnell of the Farmington Police Dept. was hospitalized with a shattered pelvis and other broken bones. A suspect had plowed a car into him, pinning him against a police cruiser before speeding off.
Even in that moment of great pain and uncertainty, O'Donnell was sure his career on active patrol wasn't over.
"I told the chief right then and there that night in the emergency room that I was gong to be back, and I wasn't going to go against that promise," says O'Donnell.
After a year of surgeries and tough rehab, O'Donnell fulfilled that pledge on Monday, returning to patrol. As he started his shift, O'Donnell's colleagues surprised him by lining up in the police station parking lot to give him a standing ovation.
He says it's that kind of support that helped push him through.
"I couldn't stumble and fall and not come back," adds O'Donnell. "I had to be back because these guys supported me, the town supported me... and I think my wife would not be very pleased with me if I didn't reach my goal."
O'Donnell and his wife are the parents of a 3-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl.
O'Donnell says he's in good shape to get back to work, laughing as he told reporters, "I went for a two-mile run yesterday (Sunday) just to make sure I was good to go. I did it with flying colors. I might be a little sore today, but, I'm doing well. I'm excited to be back."
Pleased with his officer's comeback, Farmington Police Chief Colin Ryan says he admires O'Donnell's willpower:
"It's a testament to him," says Ryan. "A lot of people could have easily said 'That's a road (returning to work) that I don't really want to go down' and just take your time and retire and walk away. That was never Officer O'Donnell's intent. It was consistently about 'When can I come back?'"