Seriously Burned KS Officer Cleared for Return to Light Duty
Hamilton was one of three Baxter Springs officers injured while responding to a disturbance call on Sept. 30. The police said they found Harvey Raymond Ortberg, 49, of Baxter Springs, at the scene after he allegedly entered the home of Sharon Horn, assaulted her, doused her with gasoline and lit a fire.
Baxter Springs, KS, police Officer Jimmy Hamilton, who was seriously burned while responding to a call last fall, has been medically cleared to return to light duty.
Nearly four months after the incident, Hamilton returned to work last week and has been assigned to dispatch services, the Joplin Globe reports.
“(Jan. 8) was my first day back, and it’s been good,” Hamilton said on Friday. “I’ve never dispatched before, so I’m learning that whole process. I’m happy to be back. I’ve been looking forward to coming back for quite a while, and the doctors finally released me to light duty. It kind of feels like I’m getting back where I need to be.”
Hamilton was one of three Baxter Springs officers injured while responding to a disturbance call on Sept. 30. The police said they found Harvey Raymond Ortberg, 49, of Baxter Springs, at the scene after he allegedly entered the home of Sharon Horn, assaulted her, doused her with gasoline and lit a fire.
Horn later died of her injuries. Hamilton and officers Darryl Nadeau and Justin Butler were all injured; Hamilton suffered burns to about 30 percent of his body and has been receiving treatment from a burn unit in Springfield, Missouri.
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