Patrick Kepp knows his life is different now 鈥� he鈥檚 already experienced things he鈥檚 only read about or seen on TV. However, the veteran Montgomery County, Maryland, police sergeant never expected he would require a form of 鈥渃ritical care鈥� or need to learn how to walk again.
Early on the morning of Oct. 18, the 36-year-old experienced what most law enforcement personnel would consider a devastating crash, which resulted in both of his legs being amputated.
Today, 10 surgical procedures later, he鈥檚 finally on a positive but lengthy path to recovery and rehabilitation. He was able to wheel himself out of the hospital on Dec. 7.
It’s been two months since that fateful day on Interstate 270, when 19-year-old Raphael Mayorga, of Frederick, intentionally struck Kepp. The officer was attempting to stop Mayorga who was suspected of driving drunk. Kepp parked his cruiser on the crossover of the interstate and got out to deploy 鈥渟top sticks鈥� to deflate the tires of the swerving car.
鈥淭he vehicle is observed actually intentionally moving from the middle lanes to the far left lanes and Mayorga came directly at Sgt. Kepp as he was deploying the 鈥榮top sticks,'” Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said after the incident. 鈥淗e intentionally struck Sgt. Kepp in the main lanes of I-270.鈥�
Kepp said he has been nothing less than 鈥渟hocked鈥� by how much acknowledgment and support he has received from all sorts of people.
鈥淚t took me a while to realize that there are people from around the world that this [incident] has impacted. I鈥檝e had some pretty famous people reach out to me and I still can鈥檛 believe it,” he said.
Moving forward
What does the road to recovery and putting your life back together entail for Kepp?
For now, his new living quarters will be at Walter Reed along, his time filled with physical and occupational therapy sessions.
But one of the most remarkable things about Kepp is how he has already affected the lives of others.
Kepp told a story about a potential recruit that had doubts about joining the police force until he heard Jones speaking about his recovery during a press conference. Jones talked about Kepp鈥檚 desire to one day return to duty in some capacity, despite his life-altering injuries.
“It gave that person hope and changed their mind about joining the force,” he said.
For now, Kepp is letting his actions speak louder than words during his recovery journey.
There鈥檚 no definitive timeframe for when he鈥檒l permanently leave Walter Reed. There鈥檚 plenty of learning ahead for both Kepp and the community supporting him.
