Police officer recovering after being struck by falling tree
PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland police officer was seriously injured on Monday when a tree fell and hit him.
According to Sgt. Pete Simpson, the officer was participating in ATV training on Hayden Island at the time and the accident appeared to be weather-related.
The officer, identified Tuesday as Paul Meyer, is a 19-year veteran of the bureau. The accident happened around 11 a.m. Meyer was taken into surgery Monday evening in Portland.
"Officers who witnessed the accident described the falling tree as a telephone pole-sized tree that fell from 30 feet in the sky before striking Officer Meyer on his ATV," Simpson said in a press release.
On Tuesday, Simpson said Meyer is continuing to recover at a Portland hospital and is in serious condition.
Meyer is also a member of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and works in the Training Division, Simpson said.
An account has been established at Advantis Credit Union to help Officer Meyer's family during this difficult time and during his recovery. Contributions can be made in person or mailed to any Advantis Credit Union branch with the following information:
Officer Paul Meyer Fund
Account # 809390
Cards for Officer Meyer can be sent to:
Portland Police Bureau SERT
Attn: Officer Meyer & Family
449 Northeast Emerson Street
Portland, Oregon 97211
Paul & family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Â And, please ignore the insensitive comments on this page. Â Some people just don't have any empathy or compassion, as you well know. Â Just know that your brothers and sisters at the Bureau care about you deeply, and will be there for you always! Â
I do not get it. A severe storm moving in and this officer is out in the middle of it?? Now they have a fund set-up to help him and his family?? Every penny of this man and his family's expenses better be paid for by the city, if not, just contact Hart, Wagner in Portland to clear this matter up real quick...
Somebody forgot to put the tree into 'park'.
Uhhh..no offense, but if you wanna dump on someone for being insensitive, why don't you start with KATU. They're the ones that break this story about a cop getting crushed by a falling tree, and then they post a picture of him at a TIMBERS game?! There's some irony for ya.Â
 @KillsGermsOnContact I am truly sorry the officer is down, my thoughts go out to him and his family......but your post is hysterical
Just another man with a funny costume and overinflated sense of self worth... meh.
 @ChipClip What a jerk.
 @ChipClip That's just unnecessarily mean.  Who cares if he's a cop, a garbage man, or a doctor. A tree fell on the dude. Lighten up man.
Glad to hear he's pulled through surgery. All the best to you, Officer Meyer.
Glad he is alright, will make for a great story for the kids down the road, but for now just get well soon.
11: 40 AM -- Am very happy to hear the officer is recovering, now! Best wishes as well as best of fortune.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Prayers for our extended family during this time. Thank you for everyone's support.
 @SAM Morning, SAM. Any updates?
I hope this officer heals in God Speed.
This man is the brother of one of my closest friends. Â At 8pm, he's still in surgery, broken back. Â Very traumatic night for his entire family -- he just lost his mother a few months ago. Â Please keep him in your thoughts. Â
 @Sundowner Make that 3! :) Luck to him and speedy recovery!
 @Sundowner You got it, Sundowner. Hugs to you and your friend, too.
 @Sundowner With you on that!  Best wishes, and may Lady Luck be by his side tonight!
This storm is bringing trees down all over the place, it seems... Â really bad when you happen to be within reaching distance of one when it goes over...
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Very best hopes and wishes for this officer for a full recovery... Â
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KATU, please keep us posted on his condition...
 @margay1 The story is now updated.
 @BillatKATU  @margay1 ~  Many thanks, Bill..!  :-)
You jerks could use some sensitivity training! Â The officer is in serious condition! Â My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family!
My guess is PPB read the same weather report that so many others read without looking at the radar. Wait-a-second, it is time to hire a real Portland PPB weatherman that could actually save them big bucks in weather like this,,,
 @boned Are you kidding me??  What kind of pathetic comment is this....hey bright one, L.E.  Fire and Rescue do not take a day off for bad weather!  They train in this crap, so they can go out and save your arse if you get caught in it.  Think before you put something like this down for all to see.  You do have a history of it..so, I'm probably not getting through to you anyway.
Let's hope he makes a full recovery! Those ATVs can be disastrous.
 @Mikey With a storm approaching? Where was PPB Lt. King to warn of impending doom?
Oh-No! Hopefully he pulls through okay.
 @Lips Disability if all goes well...
 @boned I'm friends with several Portland police officers that fall into the 19 year veteran range. I'm really hoping for recovery, not disability. Six hour surgery, that's pretty serious.