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Officer Davis released from the hospital

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 5:09 PM Wednesday, March 17, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Mike Davis, longtime Middletown police officer and beloved Safety Town instructor, has been released from the hospital.

This afternoon, March 17, Davis could see the sun from his room at Atrium Medical Center. And he wanted out.

“I am ready,” said Davis as he waited for his release with his wife, Bev, and family.

Davis was admitted to Atrium last week after collapsing at Wildwood Elementary School. He was discharged around 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, according to Wendy Parks, a spokeswoman for Atrium.

The 61-year-old, who joined the department as a cadet in 1966, has served much of his time as a school safety officer, making sure teachers, students and parents alike know and followed the safety rules. He was a school resource officer long before there was a label for the job and one in every school, according to colleges.

Davis said he has had some heart issues over the year, but nothing that pointed to the sudden cardiac death condition that caused him to stop breathing about 9:30 a.m. March 9. He had returned from hustling after a student he said was “struggling” with some anxiety.

“I have been working with him for a while,” Davis said.

He said he just collapsed in the hall, according to what he has been told.

“I don’t remember anything about Tuesday,” Davis said. “The lights didn’t come back on in Georgia until about Friday afternoon,” he said.

What he found was an outpouring of cards, posters, balloons and a steady stream of visitors, both young and old. About 500 in all, according to his family.

“I always hoped they loved me, but you never know,” he said with a chuckle. “Course there are some out there who don’t.”

Davis now has a defibrillator and pacemaker. He said doctors told him there is no damage to his heart. However, he can’t drive for a while.

“It’s a busy time of year with the end of school and getting ready for Safety Town. We will just have to see how things progress,” Davis said.

But one way or another, he assured he will be at Safety Town this summer when a new group of children learn about bus and traffic safety.

“If I’m not teaching, I will be supervising,” Davis said.

He said he is thankful to the staff members and volunteers who jumped into action and tended to him at the school. He knows he was very fortunate to have an able group led by school nurse, Sally Kash, to “bring me back.”

“The good Lord has something else in mind for me,” Davis said. “I am so thankful.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.

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