Help Officer Zach Mathews on His Road to Recovery

Officer Zach Mathews was born and raised in Orlando. Growing up, his family always served their community in many different aspects. He grew up watching and learning from his parents what it meant to help and serve his community. His mom is a mental health counselor and his dad serves on staff at their family church. His sister is a fire fighter and paramedic in Orange City. Zach has a family member and many friends that have worked in and with law enforcement. He was always drawn to this type of work growing up. If Zach saw someone in need, he was there to help. Zach graduated from Seminole State Law Enforcement Academy in April of 2023. He joined the Belle Isle Police Department that same month. Within his first year, he received the “Patrol Officer of the Year” award and was drawn to traffic enforcement. Zach joined the Specialized Traffic, Marine and DUI Unit.

On May 1, 2024, Zach was injured in the line of duty. He conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle without lights on his trailer. During the stop, he developed probable cause to search the driver and vehicle. Zach called for a backup officer and they asked the suspect to step out of the vehicle. The suspect began reaching around the vehicle and under the driver’s seat. As they pulled him from the vehicle, the suspect put his vehicle into drive during the struggle. Zach was pushed onto the pavement and fell between the vehicle and the trailer. The vehicle and trailer began to roll and the trailer stopped on Zach’s chest. He was left gasping for air and unable to breathe. By a miracle, he was able to lift the trailer off his chest, get up, and help his partner apprehend the suspect. Zach was rushed to the ER under trauma alert. His back is fractured in several places, he lost feeling and sensitivity in his right leg and has nerve damage that causes his hands to tingle and go numb as well as nerve pain in his back. Zach has used a walker and back brace as a result of his injuries from the incident but is beginning to move short distances without the walker. He is still in a great deal of pain from his injuries and has months of recovery still ahead.

Zach is currently unable to take care of many basic tasks around his home. Mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, getting groceries, driving, and taking care of his two dogs are extremely difficult tasks. These tasks he would normally be doing himself, but he had to have someone help with them, which has made living expenses higher than ever before his injuries were sustained while on duty.

Zach is grateful to be alive and beyond grateful for the help and support the Belle Isle Community and Police Department has shown him. He looks forward to being released for full duty and being back on the road serving and protecting the city of Belle Isle, the community he loves so much.