WOODBURN, Ore. – Residents planned to gather Tuesday night to mark the return of their police chief, who nearly died in a December bank bombing that killed two other law enforcement officers.

Chief Scott Russell lost his right leg in the blast and spent months in the hospital enduring 28 surgeries. He appeared before reporters Tuesday in a wheelchair in his first press conference since the deadly crime.

He said he does not remember anything from that fateful day, Dec. 12, when Woodburn Police Capt. Tom Tennant and Oregon State Police Senior Trooper William Hakim were killed inside a Woodburn West Coast Bank branch.

They were trying to open what Hakim believed was a hoax bomb when it exploded. Russell was nearby.

He said Tuesday he believed he survived for a reason. “I have a bigger mission to fulfill,” he said. “I’m not sure what that is yet. That'll be my life's work to look for that. But there’s something left for me to do.”

As to Bruce and Joshua Turnidge, the father and son arrested in connection with the deadly bombing, Russell said they are in the right place – behind bars.

“I have forgiven them,” he said. “I have to forgive them. It’s a matter of my personal belief that hatred will eat you up. And so that’s my choice and my family's choice.”

The chief has one more surgery on Monday. After that, he will get a prosthetic leg and start rehab in order to walk, which he said he will do again. Also, he has returned to work as chief and said he plans to continue serving the people of Woodburn.