News

Transit officer injured in Watertown shootout pens moving, humorous letter

(MyFoxBoston.com) – The MBTA Transit Police officer shot in the leg during the wild shootout with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects in Watertown is now awake, moving around, talking, and telling jokes.

Transit Officer Richard "Dic" Donohue wrote a letter, published on the MBTA Transit Police Department's website, thanking his family, the fearless individuals who saved his life, and the medical staff at Mount Auburn Hospital who brought him back to life.

In the letter, Donohue jokes that he has come a long way in his recovery and is able to make jokes, much to his wife's dismay. He also kids that the bullet, which struck his femoral artery and will remain lodged in his leg, will get him out of his household duties.

"The bullet will remain in my leg as it is not obstructing anything or causing any pain. However my wife has informed me that the bullet will ultimately cause her the most pain, as I will be using it to get out of things such as mowing the lawn, doing laundry, and painting the deck," Donohue said.

Donohue then extends his condolences to the Collier family, who lost their loved one, 26-year-old MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, the same night Donohue exchanged gunfire with the bombing suspects.

"Sean was one of my good friends out of the Academy and I arrived on scene soon after Sean's attack. There is not a single day we are not thinking or speaking of Sean. And we are certain Sean was watching over me and assisted in saving my life. He could not save himself that night, but Sean could save me," Donohue wrote.

Donohue is still working to piece together the events of leading up the shootout, but says the full story will be "wilder than any movie you have ever seen. And it will contain more heroes."

In the meantime, Donohue asks for the time and space necessary for his full recovery.

For the full letter: MBTA Transit Police