An Anderson, Ind. police officer who had a leg amputated follow a shooting that took the life of his K-9 partner two years ago has returned to the job.
Officer Marty Dulworth responded to a shooting in Pendleton on July 26, 2012 with police dog Kilo, according to WXIN-TV.
The suspect, Jim Kenneth Bailey, was found dead and an innocent bystander, Neal Shull, also was killed. Kilo was killed and Dulworth was shot twice.
The first bullet went through his lower left leg.
"I remember falling to the ground and I remember trying to crawl out of the alley," he said. "I knew it was bad and then I felt like kind of a bee sting in the right leg."
Dulworth would return to work seven months after the shooting after his right leg healed and his left leg was saved by doctors by reconstructing his foot using muscle from his stomach
The pain was unbearable, and after about a year, he decided the only option he had was to amputate part of his left leg and foot. Dulworth's foot was amputated Sept. 3, 2013.
"Like anyone else, that fear of being different (bothered) me," he said. "(I thought) everything (was) going to have to change, but it (didn’t)."
The community rallied behind the officer and raised money to purchase the department new K-9s. Now, he is building a bond with his new partner, Rico.
"I'm at a point in my life where I'm stronger now than I've ever been and I feel good," he said, adding that he hopes to become an inspiration to others. "I didn't let somebody who went off the deep end one night ruin my life and my family’s life because he wasn't having a good night."
