Blue Line Cookout aims to help Columbia police officer hurt on I-126

Pete Conklin hasn’t been able to come back to work at the Columbia Police Department since he was injured on the job near the end of May.

The 28-year-old officer was struck on Interstate 126 while responding to what he described as a fender bender. He’s had to have three surgeries since then, and says he still hasn’t regained feeling in part of his left arm. But as he works through three sessions of physical therapy a week, he says he’s kept upbeat by support from fellow cops, the Midlands community, and even folks outside of South Carolina.

“I get mail occasionally sent to the department from different states,” Conklin said. “I’ve gotten some letters from Canada. It’s kind of been a shock to see how many people are behind you.”

A little closer to home, Conklin’s fellow officers are putting together the Blue Line Cookout at the police department – a fundraiser that’s free to attend and open to the public at 11 a.m. Friday.

“None of us have the same blood flowing through us, but when it comes to law enforcement, we are brothers,” Sgt. Fred Bryant said.

Bryant is set to man the grill Friday. Food served will include hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and more. Bryant, alongside Capt. George Drafts, organized the cookout.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook said it’s encouraging, but not surprising, to see officers rally around each other when one of them goes through a life-changing event.

“To me, it’s important that number one, he gets better, and that he knows he has a place here at the police department as soon as he’s able to come back to work – and that we’re going to support him off the job just like we supported him on the job,” Holbrook said.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Blue Line Cookout aims to help Columbia police officer hurt on I-126."