ST reader NC Cop: A true inspiration for all of us

Longtime readers of this blog and I have come to know, like, and respect greatly ST reader NC Cop. As I wrote in this post shortly after I met him, he started visiting this blog in November 2005, commented for a little over a month, sent pictures of some of the sights he was seeing while he was in Iraq helping train the Iraqi police force, and then we didn’t hear from him for a few months after late December 2005.

In March 2006, he sent me this email:

Don’t know if you remember me or not, NC Cop, I was over in Iraq last time I talked to you. I am a police officer in High Point and left to help train Iraqi police. I haven’t been around in a while because my vehicle got hit with an IED on 12/30/05. I lost both my legs below the knee and have been going through therapy ever since. I’m due to get my prosthetics in a month or so and will begin my journey to get back to the police department as a police officer!

Anyway, I didn’t send this for you to feel sorry for me, please don’t!! I have absolutely no regrets about going to Iraq and still believe in the mission to this day!!! Keep up the great work and maybe I’ll talk to you on your website soon!!!

Take care and God bless!!!

Around the time of that email, he was just starting his therapy, and it was clear from the email and subsequent comments made here at the blog that NC was determined to master his therapy in order to be able to return to the police department where he so dearly loved and was dedicated to.

Back when I met him, in October of last year, he had just accomplished the ability to run for the first time since he’d gotten his prosthetics and was very excited and eager to continue on with his therapy, because he had a goal, and he wasn’t going to let the setbacks he’d suffered along the road to recovery keep him from achieving it.

Friday evening I rec’d an email from ST reader Mwalimu Daudi with a link to a story from Fox News about a cop from NC who had lost his legs below the knee in Iraq, inquiring as to whether or not that person was in fact NC. He thought it was, but wasn’t sure and even if it was, he didn’t know if he should post it since it included NC’s real name. Sure enough, when I read the article, I saw right away it was NC. I emailed NC to find out if he was ok with me posting the story here, and today he gave me the go ahead. When you see what the story is about, you’ll be as elated as MD and I were to read it:

North Carolina police officer who lost his feet while working as a contractor in Iraq has won back his place on the police force, MyFOXWGHP.com reports.

Ken Leonard passed his physical to return to the High Point, N.C., force with 24 seconds to spare on Thursday.

“Somebody told me one time they said, ‘You know, what you’ve lost is just bone and muscle. You’ve still got heart, and you’ve still got, you know, what’s up here,’” Leonard told MyFOXWGHP.com, pointing to his head.

Leonard lost his feet in December 2005, while working for a private security firm in Iraq.

The former cop had to pass the Police Officers Physical Abilities Test, which includes a 200-yard run, in under 7 minutes, 20 seconds. In May, he was only able to complete the test in 8 minutes, 36 seconds.

On Thursday, Leonard realized his dream, completing the test in 6 minutes, 56 seconds.

Here are some photos from that Thursday, but to get the full effect, you really need to watch both the news report and the video of Ken’s physical exam.

More, from the Fox story:

Leonard told MyFOXWGHP.com that a Winston Churchill quote, “Never, never, never give up,” kept him focused on his goal.

And he never did.

Ken is living proof that if you have the will and the drive, you can accomplish even your hardest goals. Persistence and a strong support network of family, friends, and colleagues are also key to being able to realize your dreams. That video incidicates that he has a very strong support network, and of course, NC, you know we support you 2000% here as well.

Here’s a picture of Ken from Iraq:

And here’s a picture of Ken on Thursday, on his way to passing his physical exam:

Congratulations, NC – even after all you went through, you never let it deter you from living your life to the fullest and realizing your American dream of returning to the police force. You have shown a remarkable strength and will that some of us who have gone through much less do not possess. You’re an inspiration, a hero, and an all around wonderful person and the readers of this blog and I are honored to be able to call you “friend.” God bless you.