Posen police Cpl. Antwyan Murray can’t wait to get back to work, and he’s doing everything he can to get back in uniform. But it might be a while.
A recent off-duty car accident left Murray with several broken bones and police Chief William Alexander predicted it will be a few months before Murray can come back.
That’s not how Murray sees it.
“I’m hoping to return within the next month,” Murray said Friday. “I’m completing physical therapy and occupational therapy. I’m trying to get the strength back in my shoulder.”
Posen police Cpl. Antwyan Murray was injured in a car crash and is eager to get back to work once he heals, he said. (Posen Police Department)
Murray has his goals, and the police department, mayor’s office and World Fuel Services in conjunction with Posen Gas & Food Mart have set some goals as well.
They want to raise $10,000 to help with Murray’s medical expenses and rehab. A fundraising page has been set up, and the Patel family that operates the Posen Gas & Food station plans on donating a big chunk of that total.
Owners Bharet and Urmilia Patel and sons Love and Kush, along with World Fuel Services, are chipping in $5,000. Plus, a portion of every gallon of gas sold at their business through May 26 will go toward the fundraising initiative, likely providing an extra $2,000 or maybe even more.
A $7,000 check will be presented at Tuesday’s Posen Village Board meeting, and the family said if there is more money collected via the gas initiative, it will be delivered later in the month.
“The first responders have always been there for us and we’ve been here many, many years,” Love Patel said. “I think it’s just the correct thing to do.”
Firoz Vohra, a member of the family who is overseeing the fundraising project, is also passionate about Murray’s cause because it hits home.
His daughter Shifa, a Calumet Park police officer, was killed in an off-duty crash in November, 2020.
“We know how important it is to support our local law enforcement,” Vohra said. “We received a lot of support in our time of need and now we want to support this officer in his time of need.”
Posen Mayor Frank Podbielniak said he appreciates the Patel family’s dedication to this fundraiser.
“This is so honorable,” he said. “You usually don’t see a business step up like this.”
Chief Alexander is also appreciative of the money being raised to help Murray. And, given the circumstances, he is appreciative that Murray is still living.
“Judging by the damage on the car, he was lucky to escape with his life,” Alexander said. “He’s already burned through his vacation time and sick time.”
Podbielniak is also thankful that Murray’s situation wasn’t worse.
“He’s lucky he didn’t burn to death because there was a fire and he crawled through mud and water and that saved him from getting burned,” he said. “He would have been in the Loyola Hospital burn center for a long time — if he would have made it.”
“I’m blessed,” the 34-year-old Murray said. “The alternative could have been a lot worse.”
With just 18 full time police on the force, being a man down is tough for the Posen department. Murray also has a supervisory role and his absence is felt.
But no one is asking him to rush back. Alexander said Murray will have to be 100% before he returns. Podbielniak is guessing that Murray could be back in July.
“He would come back tomorrow if he could,” Podbielniak said. “He would come back to work right now because he loves the job. That’s why I respect him so much. He’s a good kid. He’s very loyal. He’s a good worker and he is there all the time. He would be there now if he could be.”
Alexander said even at a young age, Murray has touched countless lives and is quickly rising up the ranks of the department.
Murray is overwhelmed by the emotional and financial support from the business, fellow officers and mayor’s office.
“When the chief mentioned the fundraiser to me, it just humbled me, man,” he said.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter with the Daily Southtown.
