AKRON, Ohio— Springfield Twp. police officer Mark Dodez appeared upbeat on Tuesday and his doctors said Dodez now has movement in both of his legs after it was earlier feared he might never walk again.
Dodez was hit by a pickup truck while on duty on March 31 while helping collect evidence for the Summit County Sheriff's Office along Arlington Road.
The man who was driving the truck, Michael Plemons, 34, of Akron, is charged with his fourth DUI.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at Summa Akron City Hospital, Dodez said because of his faith he holds no grudge against Plemons, who is still in custody.
Dodez called the incident "terrible," but added "we all make mistakes."
"What he did was a criminal offense. He'll be dealt with through the justice system, through the courts," said Dodez. "I'm sure he wouldn't do it again."
"I'm not a vindictive person," added Dodez.
"If I'm going to heal properly, if I'm going to focus on getting better and on walking and on doing the things I need to do either to get back to work or in a situation where I can do something else with my life and still be productive, I have to forgive him," said Dodez on Tuesday. "He'll be dealt with by the courts and he doesn't need to be dealt with by me."
Speaking about Plemons, Dodez also said, "In order for him to heal, he's got to know that I forgive him."
Dodez said he is working as hard as he can to recover from his injuries and to walk again.
Doctor Jeff Sanderson, one of the specialists who has been involved in Dodez' daily therapy, said the initial assessment of Dodez' injury was dire.
Lisa Dodez, the officer's wife, told reporters in an earlier news conference that doctors gave her husband only a very small chance of ever taking another step.
On Tuesday, doctors said it is clear that the injury to Dodez' spinal cord is not as severe as initially thought.
"The great news that we have seen, mainly in testament to how hard a worker the officer is, he has had some return ability to move his legs," said Sanderson.
"His ability to walk is a realistic goal," Sanderson said on Tuesday.
Springfield Police Chief John Smith also presented Dodez a certificate from the Summit County Prosecutor's office honoring him as their "Top Cop."
Sanderson says Dodez' goal is to return to work as a police officer, adding, "Whatever their goals are, that is our goal."
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