Officer back on job after dramatic hit

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Officer Willie Hooper  was on his way home when he got involved in a police matter that nearly took his life.  The video took our breath away and could be too disturbing for some viewers.  It is to Hooper himself.

Hooper told 2 NEWS,  "I remember running out into the street. I had stop sticks in my hand. I remember one car stopped for me and I put my hand up for the other car to stop and it didn't and at that point I totally blacked out. I don't remember anything up until the point I hit the ground."

Officer Willie Hooper survived a crash many thought he would not.  Now less than  three months later he's as committed as ever to clearing crime out of Dayton.  2 NEWS was with him when he led the charge on Monday to a house police described as hot with heroin.

"One of  the things they wanted me to do is go on light duty. That's not me. I can't sit and answer a phone. I need to get out and do my job," Hooper said.

Hooper, a 26-year veteran of the Dayton Police Department, returned to work two weeks ago,  though doctors and other officers had apparently suggested he take more time to recover.

Hooper explained, "Right now I have two torn ligaments on both sides of my pelvic area where the car hit me and I buckled over that."

On November 27, 2012 officers were chasing a man who according to the police report had indicated he was suicidal and carrying a bomb.

Hooper said he was on his way home when he got involved.  He tried to slow down the suspect using stop sticks in the area of Salem and Philadelphia.

Hooper recalled, "At that time I knew I had a job to do and what people don't understand is I only had a matter of ten seconds to place those stop sticks before the other vehicle coming the opposite direction got up to that point, something I had to do really quick."

Hooper was in the hospital for only one day, but he's still in therapy and surgery is a real possibility.

Hooper finds it difficult to watch the dash cam video.  He told 2 NEWS, "It brought tears to my eyes. It's really intense."

Hooper said he has received a lot of support through emails and letter.  He told 2 NEWS he even received an apology letter from the woman who hit him.  It was sent through her probation officer.