Benefit Seeks to Help Police Officer Shot on Duty

Chicago Police Officer Nyls Meredith was on routine patrol with his partner on the evening of August 29, 2012 when his life changed in an instant.

As a member of the Unit 212 Area South Gun Team, Meredith investigated a location that was known to police as a hotspot for shootings. Three men who appeared to be armed were loitering in the area and ran away as the officers approached.

One began shooting at Meredith and his partner while fleeing, and Meredith returned fire. A bullet rammed into Meredith’s left knee. 

“I knew I had to try to block out the pain and focus on the task at hand which was maintaining my composure so I can get home safe to my family,” Meredith said.”

This marked the beginning of a recovery process involving a two-and-a-half month stay at Advocate Christ Medical Center, 11 surgeries, at least a year of therapy and mounting bills.

On Thursday, June 20, Meredith will be honored at a benefit at 115 Bourbon St. from 6 to 11 p.m. The benefit, which includes food, refreshments, raffles and a silent auction, is being organized by three of Meredith’s coworkers.

Although the offender was apprehended and taken into custody by Meredith’s partner and Meredith was awarded the Medals of Honor and Valor—the highest medal for police officers—the ordeal is long from over.

“I learned to never take things for granted,” Meredith said. His injury was so severe that doctors weren’t sure they could save his leg. As a police officer “in aggressive units, you want to do the right thing, but never take advantage of life itself. Cherish the things that you do have.”

He is still on medical leave, but he follows a rigorous regimen of therapy and workouts at home and at the Planet Fitness gym in Evergreen Park while awaiting  doctors’ permission to return to work.

“I’ve always been self-motivated and I know I’m in pain, but I don’t care,” Meredith said. “It’s my responsibility to step up to the plate.”

At the gym, he does the elliptical, stationary bike, leg press, calf raises and more. He uses resistance bands for his legs at home, but “at Planet Fitness, I can get a little more intense with it,” he said.

Meredith originally joined the force seven years ago after serving in the military for 10 years. “I have family that are officers; it comingles with the military. I wanted to help others,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be the police, even as a child.”

Meredith admits that the hardest part of this experience was “not being able to function at 100 percent, not being able to walk around and do stuff on my own…it took me four months to walk again.”

But, he sees the silver lining: Before the shooting, “I didn’t realize how much I was gone at home…the best part was being able to spend more time with my [seven-year-old] daughter and wife.”

Meredith’s ultimate goal? “Hands down, to make sure I have a speedy recovery—to get back to it, be the police officer that I’ve always been,” he said. 

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $30 on Thursday, June 20 from 6 to 11 p.m. and includes food and drinks.  

-Updated 8:53 a.m.