War Injuries Don’t Affect Dispatcher’s Work

Just 68 days into his second tour of duty in Iraq, Mark O’Brien was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and seriously injured—his right arm and leg were gone. But rehabilitation, family, friendship and a job as an Erie County (NY) sheriff’s dispatcher have put him back in the mainstream, handling 911 calls and radio traffic. He had intended to become a police officer after military service, but that became impossible. Sitting around at home and receiving state disability payments was also out of the question for him. “So this is kind of my way of being part of it. This is my way of helping people and I like the excitement of the job,” he told a reporter. He types incidents into computer-aided dispatch (CAD) one-handed, and wants no pity for his condition. Read O’Brien’s inspiring story here, and watch a video after the break.