Officer Tim Davis returning to solo patrol Tuesday

Cedar Rapids police Officer Tim Davis will reach another milestone in his comeback Tuesday, as he goes on patrol by himself for the first time in more than two years.

Davis, 33, suffered a fractured skull and severe brain swelling when he was assaulted while investigating a robbery on March 29, 2009. Investigators determined 17-year-old Jose Rockiett struck Davis in the face with a pistol, causing him to fall and hit his head on the street.

Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham said Davis never wavered in his desire to return to his job. Davis returned to patrol with a training officer in July, and will go solo Tuesday evening.

“He's clearly at and above the standard of a regular police officer, so there's no reason to prevent him from taking that next step,” Graham said Monday.

Doctors initially gave Davis a slim chance to live, and he spent 39 days in the hospital. The assault left him with short-term memory loss and made problem-solving difficult, according to family and co-workers. It also changed his personality so much that those around him refer to “old Tim” and “new Tim.”

When he returned to patrol this past summer, Davis went through the same process that a rookie officer would. He spent time working all three shifts under close supervision, and made some big strides, according to Graham.

“The more time he spent on the road, the better he got, and the more like the old Tim he became,” Graham said. “He's more talkative, he seems happier and seems to be doing a whole lot better.”

Davis has declined interview requests about his journey back to the streets.

Graham accompanied Davis to a doctor's appointment last week, where they discussed the move to solo patrol. The doctor was fully supportive, Graham said.

Although he will now be allowed to go on patrol alone, Davis will technically remain in the training phase until next summer. Just like new officers, he will be closely monitored for his first full year on patrol. His supervisor will be monitoring him, and another officer will be assigned to the same zone to assist with Davis' calls, if needed.

Graham said Davis will work the overnight shift, which is what he prefers and what he did before the injury.

“He's excited and he's ready,” Graham said. “He's probably a little frustrated with us that he had to go through this, because he probably thought he was ready before this, but we had to do it.”

The comeback story is unlike any other that Graham knows about.

“By far, he has surpassed any expectation anyone has had for him, except probably himself,” Graham said. “His goal was to get back to what he loves to do. He's done what he needs to do to get there, and I'm as proud of him as I can be.”

Rockiett, now 20, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for robbery, willful injury and interference with official acts in the case. He will not be eligible for parole until 2024.