Support Officer Kurtz's Recovery Journey

My brother-in-law, Officer Michael Kurtz, and his family are facing a huge challenge in the next few months.

Officer Kurtz serves as a police officer for both the Village of Warsaw and the Town of Nunda. Two weeks ago, Michael was injured on the job while making an arrest. The suspect injured Michael's left knee, tearing his ligaments. Then, while waiting for the OK from the Worker's Comp claim for an MRI, Michael fell while at home and shattered his right ankle.

Unfortunately, since he works part-time for both jurisdictions, even though he was injured in the line of duty, he is not eligible for disability. The Worker's Compensation claim will only pay him 60% of his Nunda salary and can't factor in all of the lost time from the Village of Warsaw.

Also, because the right ankle injury was secondary to the knee injury, they will have over $10k in medical bills. Michael has to undergo several surgeries on both legs over the next several weeks and is predicted to be out of work for 4-5+ months.

Officer Kurtz and his wife Sharon, an RN at a local hospital, give themselves to their community every single day. There isn't anyone I can think of as selfless as Michael. He is the first to show up in a crisis, the first to volunteer to assist when someone has a need. Together, they are the hardest working, pull double shifts, volunteer for overnights to help, couple that I have ever met. And now they need our help.

Are you able to help them cover these unexpected medical expenses and loss of income? Anything that you can give is appreciated. They aren't ones to typically ask for help, but they are in a desperate situation where they need their community to rally behind them.

Thank you to everyone who has already called, texted, offered food, rides to appointments, and the like. It'll take a village (even bigger than Warsaw or Nunda) to get Officer Kurtz back on the streets. We are ready to stand behind them every rehab step of the way!