Fraternal Order of Police donates $2,000 toward wheelchair accessible van for injured officer

Montgomery police officer Carlos Taylor, injured in an on-duty car wreck, is $2,000 closer to being able to go for a Sunday drive or make doctor's appointments without an ambulance. 

Taylor, elected president of his graduating police academy class in 2016, was on duty in February 2017 when he was in a car wreck. The accident left him with a brain stem injury ultimately leaving him unable to walk or communicate verbally. 

Before Labor Day, a fundraiser was announced in an effort to inspire donations toward a wheelchair accessible vehicle that will ultimately cost about $65,000 with the required modifications. 

The Capitol City Lodge 11 of the Fraternal Order of Police on Wednesday presented Alabama Wounded Blue with a check for $2,000 in pursuit of a van for Taylor. The organization has now gathered over $30,000 for the van. 

Anyone who wishes to donate can do so at https://www.woundedblue.org/donate. Be sure to write “For Officer Carlos Taylor” in the comment section. Checks or money orders can be made out to Alabama Wounded Blue Inc. and addressed to P. O. Box 698, Wetumpka, AL 36092.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Kirsten Fiscus at 334-318-1798 or KFiscus@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KDFiscus