Crime & Safety

Four Years Later, Courtney Gale Returns to the ACC Police Force

Officer who was stabbed at Kroger says she feels fine.

Four years ago, Officer Courtney Gale was stabbed in her femoral artery while working as security at Kroger. She lost so much blood she almost died from the wound and almost lost a leg.

Today, after years of occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy, she is fit, fine and happy to be back on the police force. Her first day back was yesterday, she told a crowd of police officers and media representatives on Tuesday.

In the department, "we are a big family, and it was hug after hug, when she returned, Gale said. "It was very exciting."

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Oolice chief Jack Lumpkin said that Gale is now the department's training specialist and one of those working on departmental accreditation. While she was recuperating from her attack, she earned a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Georgia, a degree that will help her when she becomes a police chief some day, she said.

Gale said she remembers little about the attack, but she does wear a leg brace. The only fear she has is a fear of failure, she said. But for her, the chief said, failure isn't likely, because "knowing Courtney, she will knock down walls to get where she wants to go."

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