CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Police Officer Michael Love continues to recover from the injuries he suffered in Friday's accident that left him hospitalized, and killed fellow officer Alan McCollum.
While in the hospital, Love has had several visitors, including U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud, who represents Corpus Christi's 27th congressional district in Washington.
Cloud is back on Capitol Hill now for the State of the Union address, but, on Monday, he spent time with Love at Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline.
Cloud said Love is recovering from Friday's substantial injuries.
"During the incident he ended up pushing a car off of himself to break himself free," he said.
But despite being in the hospital, Love was in good spirits.
"He's an all-go guy," Cloud said. "It's hard to bring him down. He spread his arms wide and said 'Bring it in, bring it in, I'm a hugger. You look like one too.' "
He said he wanted to visit Love on behalf of the people in the 27th district, to pay honor and respect.
"I know that if it were possible, everyone in our community would like to be in that room with him," Cloud said.
He said they shared a few laughs, but also had a heart-to-heart talk about Love's road to recovery.
"He mentioned to me that knowing what he's going through right now, even the burden it's gonna place on his family and all the recovery it's gonna take, the months of recovery, he would still sign up to serve our community as a Corpus Christi police officer," Cloud said.
He said he made his visit quick because Love's daughter was going to visit her father for the first time after the accident, but that Love told Cloud he hopes to be out of the hospital in time to attend McCollum's funeral on Thursday.
He said when he arrived, his intention was to encourage Love, but instead, he left feeling encouraged.
"Everything I heard about Officer Love was true," Cloud said. "You think you're coming to encourage somebody and he encourages you with his optimistic spirit."
