INJURED OFFICER OBLIGED TO SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY

From the time Cape Girardeau police officer Dan Niswonger lost control of his police motorcycle, struck a curb and was thrown into a nearby guywire, the community has provided its support.

To date, private donations and money raised for the family by civic groups, organizations and churches, total more than $25,000. Also about 50 area police officers and firefighters got together one Saturday in May and put a new roof on the Niswonger home.

The generosity shown through donations, cards and gifts since Niswonger's accident, has left him and his family amazed.

"For someone who has written as many tickets as I have, who would have thought that I had a friend in the world?" said Niswonger. "But through all this, I've come to realize that you don't know who you really have as friends until something like this happens.

"Officers in this community do good things all the time," he said. "And when the chips are down, it's the good things that people remember."

For instance, one woman who wrote to Niswonger at the St. Louis hospital, was merely returning a favor. One night while patrolling, Niswonger followed the woman to her Scott City home in his police car. Her engine was leaking fluid, and he wanted to make sure she was safely home.

"My dad's philosophy in his life and for his family was always to treat people as you would have them treat you,'" he said. "That is one lesson I use in my life every day."

Since the city's insurance and workmen's compensation plans have covered virtually all medical expenses, the Niswongers will use the donated funds to modify their home, making it more accessible by wheelchair, and to pay other auxiliary expenses associated with his condition.

But Niswonger already has plans of ridding himself of the wheelchair for good. The officer is about to receive a partial prosthesis that he hopes will hook into an artificial limb, someday allowing him to walk again. Just weeks after his release from the hospital, Niswonger is driving the family van, getting around on his own.

The overwhelming support the community has shown for Niswonger also has bolstered the spirits of his co-workers.

"Because we are very frequently in the type of work where we don't see people at their best or are dealing with someone with a problem, it's easy to get the opinion that your work is not appreciated," said Capt. Steve Strong of the Cape Girardeau Police Department. "What the community has done for Danny in the past several weeks reflects well on the department and on all the officers.

"Hardly anyone ever complained about Danny," said Strong. "But we would get calls from people, telling us how good he was, or how nice he had been to them -- and this is after he's given them a ticket. He is one of a kind."

Niswonger's injuries stem from the April 2 accident, when he was working traffic control for a running event near the Show Me Center. A doctor and an emergency room nurse participating in the marathon were among the first to rush to his aide.

Niswonger spent a total of 86 days in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau hospitals, recovering from his injuries. Near the end of his stay, doctors removed his right leg and part of his pelvis.

But while Niswonger lay in the hospital, often on huge doses of pain-deadening medication, literally hundreds of people in the Cape Girardeau area sent their wishes, their prayers and portions of their bank accounts out to him. He received so many cards, that he's still reading them.

One of the most successful fundraisers for Niswonger was a benefit car and motorcycle show, poker run, parade and dance held at Arena Park. The event raised nearly $12,000.

Sponsors included the Timeless Classic Car Club, SEMO Harley Owners Group, Freedom of Road Riders, Gold Wing Road Riders Association Chapter I, SEMO Son Riders of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, River City Rodders, and Capaha Antique Car Club with assistance from Pop's Pizza and the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.