Mesa officer with Lou Gehrig's disease allowed to stay

by Nathan Gonzalez - Jan. 20, 2010 05:47 PM
The Arizona Republic

After being forced into medical retirement last week, Mesa Police Officer Mark Kelly, who is battling Lou Gehrig's disease, is going back to work, police officials confirmed Wednesday night.

City, police and union officials met for hours Wednesday to discuss Kelly, who was medically retired last week after failing a fit-for-duty exam, which city officials stated he needed to remain with the department.

Kelly's departure came as a blow to many of the officers and staffers he worked with at the department's Red Mountain Division office, said Sgt. Brian Soller, president of the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

"In the end the city decided it was the right thing to do," Soller said. "This was a huge accomplishment for everyone."

Kelly and his wife, Elizabeth, have four young boys and another child on the way.

He was a patrol officer until his disease, known medically as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, forced him to take a position as a light-duty officer, which involves taking reports over the phone and other desk duties.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. As the condition worsens, the body eventually loses its ability to control muscle movement until the patient dies.

As part of the reinstatement, Kelly will be allowed to work from home and at the office, as his health permits, Soller said. He'll also keep his salary.

In an e-mail ahead of Wednesday's discussions, Kelly questioned how his growing family would survive on his $10,000 annual retirement pension.

"I am proud to be a Mesa Police officer and honor the men and women I work with," he wrote.

Those fellow officers donated vacation time and money keep him employed with the department, Kelly wrote.

Just seven months ago, the five-year police veteran stood tall with the aid of a wooden staff. Today, the 30-year-old is confined to a motorized wheelchair
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In December, Kelly's family received a donated wheelchair-accessible van to help shuttle his family. | slideshow Mesa police officers help out colleague