COMMUNITY SUPPORTS INJURED OFFICER

As Cape Girardeau police officer Dan Niswonger recovers from a seemingly endless series of operations in a St. Louis hospital, co-workers, friends, relatives and area residents maintain a constant vigil for the officer and his family.

Niswonger was listed in fair but stable condition Tuesday at Saint Louis University Hospital. He is recovering from an operation performed Friday, where doctors removed his right leg and part of his pelvic bone.

For weeks, a team of doctors worked to control infections that developed in the leg following severe injuries he incurred in an April 2 motorcycle accident.

Niswonger was working traffic control for a running event near the Show Me Center when his motorcycle collided with a van on North Sprigg Street as the driver of the van turned onto Emerald. The officer was thrown from the motorcycle and slammed into a nearby guywire.

Only days after the accident, the Women In Law Enforcement organization in Cape Girardeau put together a "care package" to take to the Niswonger family in St. Louis.

"The next day, we passed the hat around the station," said police detective Judy Gentry. "We collected about $2,600 for Danny and his family just at our station and in other nearby departments."

Gentry presented the money to Niswonger and his family at the St. Louis hospital in what she recalled as a very emotional moment.

"We wanted to help Danny's family out with travel expenses, food and hotel costs while they stayed in St. Louis," said Gentry. "When I handed Danny the traveler's checks, I got all choked up. He couldn't believe we had done this."

About 40 area police officers and firefighters put a roof on the Niswonger home in Cape Girardeau on Saturday. Many of the supplies were donated or paid for by donations.

TCI Cablevision is sponsoring a benefit golf tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course July 11. Entry fee is $65 per golfer, with proceeds to go to the on-going care of Niswonger and his family.

Entry forms for the golf tournament can be picked up at Bent Creek, the Cape Girardeau Police Department or at the Jackson and Cape Girardeau TCI Cablevision offices.

The Cape Girardeau Regional Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 33 is working to establish a trust fund for the Niswonger family at an area bank.

There is no word from the hospital on when Niswonger may be able to return to Cape Girardeau.

But Niswonger's family asks that friends send cards or letters to the hospital rather than visit, because the recovering officer is in a great deal of pain and tires easily.