CPD officer Daniel Golden released from hospital after being paralyzed in Beverly bar shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago Police Officer Daniel Golden, who was shot and paralyzed after breaking up a fight in a bar in Beverly Last weekend, was discharged from the hospital.
Golden is currently heading to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to work with physiotherapists as he continues to recover. His family felt it was the best place in the world for him to recover.
“If he can do four years in the frozen Alaskan tundra in the military, he can get through this, he can do this. He’s got a great mindset, he’s tough. ,” said his father, Patrick Golden, a retired Chicago police officer.
When Officer Golden left Advocate Christ Medical Center Friday afternoon, he was greeted by a cheering crowd of friends, family and fellow officers.
Golden smiled as paramedics moved him through the crowd to the Chicago Fire Department ambulance. The crowd of wise men who greeted him included his lifelong friends from the Southwest.
“Seeing the people here that he went to high school, grammar school, served in the Police Department, it was so exciting for him. It was unbelievable,” his father said.
Golden was shot last weekend outside a Beverly neighborhood bar. Three men have been charged in the shootingand prosecutors have said that Golden was simply trying to break up a fight when one of the three men shot him in the back.
“We have to stop this senseless gun violence. Too many people here get shot. Too many people here get killed in the United States of America,” his father said.
Golden, a US Army veteran, is now paralyzed from the waist down.
“He’s a strong army. He can do this,” his father said.
After his son was taken to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Officer Golden’s father thanked everyone for their support and thanked Christ Medical Center for his treatment.
“Christ Hospital was unbelievable. They saved his life. When I saw him the other morning, I thought he was going to die in front of me. He was in shock. Christ Hospital took him in. He came back. They saved him. Hat to Christ Hospital. I can’t say enough,” he said.
He also shared that his son impressed the doctors at Christ Medical Center, as he was able to move himself in and out of the chair with the help of what is known as a transfer board. .
Officer Golden’s father said his son is resilient, he’s as tough as they come, and he’s ready for the road ahead.
CBS 2’s Tim McNicholas graduated from St. Rita with Golden in 2009, and he said even back then, Golden was known as a tough and resilient guy throughout the school.
GoFundMe for Golden Employee Rehabilitation has raised more than $1.2 million. You can find that GoFundMe here.
