By Beau Yarbrough
San Bernardino County Sun
Big Bear Lake — A deputy shot in the face and leg by rogue cop Christopher Dorner returned to work Monday, seven months after the climactic shoot-out that ended the largest manhunt in Southern California history.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Alex Collins resumed work at the Big Bear station Monday, welcomed by Sheriff John McMahon and Capt. Tom Bradford.
“It is an emotional and proud day for this department,” McMahon is quoted as saying in a department press release. “We are so happy that Alex is doing so well and is returning to work.”
Collins, 27, was shot in the leg and face by Dorner during the final confrontation between law enforcement and the former Los Angeles Police Department officer, who had barricaded himself in a condominium near where police and media were headquartered.
The five-year veteran of the force and father of a young son sustained life-threatening injuries during the gun battle than ended in Dorner’s death, along with that of sheriff’s Detective Jeremiah MacKay.
Collins will be on desk duty for now, according to the sheriff’s department, working from his station doing follow-up investigative work.
He was welcomed back to work with a station barbecue.
“I knew I would be returning to work,” Collins is quoted as saying in the department press release. “As soon as I woke up in the hospital all I could think about was getting back to duty.”
Copyright 2013 the San Bernardino County Sun