Officer returns to work nearly 2 years after being shot

Officer returns to work nearly 2 years after being shot


4 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SOUTH JORDAN — Looking at Officer Stevan Gerber, you wouldn't know that he was shot in the leg. You wouldn't know that he has been through numerous painful surgeries, therapy and countless doctor's visits.

But you might notice that he really loves being a police officer.

Two years ago Sunday, Gerber was working with the U.S. Marshals Joint Criminal Apprehension Team to arrest 29-year-old Troy Cabibi, who had violated his parole.

As officers approached the apartment in which Cabibi was located, they announced they were entering, and before they could enter the door they had just broken down with a battering ram, Gerber was shot. JCAT officers pulled him from the gunfire, keeping him alive.

"It is kind of crazy to think that it's been two years, there are days when it feels a lot longer than that and days where you go, ‘really? We're already there?'" Gerber said.

By the numbers...
Officers assaulted
  • 576 in 2010
  • 610 in 2011
  • 140 in first four months of 2012
Info:Utah Department of Public Safety

On the anniversary of his injury, Gerber chose to go patrol, saying that he works this day because he doesn't want to let the man who shot him take away another minute of what he loves to do.

When officer Gerber had enough strength he went back to work behind a desk, and between surgeries, he helped with training and speaking assignments.

"I went though a period of being bed ridden to being in a wheelchair, to crutches and a cane to getting my sea legs back and walking again," Gerber said.

But his ultimate goal? To get back on the street, and from there, to return to SWAT and JCAT.

Last week, he reached the first part of his goal.

"It was kind of emotional leading up to it," Gerber said. "I was getting ready, trying to remember where everything went, make sure that I still fit in my uniform and that it looked good."

He hopes to return to SWAT and JCAT in six to eight months.

He credits two things for keeping him motivated: First, his family, and second, the determination that nobody will take him away from the job he loves.

"You shot me and you messed me up but I'm still out here doing it."

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Shara Park

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast