Warner Robins officer grateful for support after being shot in January

Officer Matthew Wojtal has undergone four surgeries and says he hopes to return to the line of duty.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Warner Robins police officer shot in the line of duty is now home and continuing a long road to recovery.

Officer Matthew Wojtal says he was deeply moved by the outpouring of support from community members fellow first responders and donations following the shooting.

“I was informed that the community came out in droves,” Wojtal said. “I can’t even put into words how thankful I am.”

Wojtal says becoming a police officer was a  calling.

“It’s something you have a passion to do, something you feel inside you,” he said. “This is important to me. This is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Just days from his eight-year anniversary with the Warner Robins Police Department, Wojtal is now focused on recovery after being shot in the line of duty on January 29. He has undergone four surgeries and says only minor procedures remain.

Once an athletic 35-year-old, Wojtal says recovery has brought unexpected challenges.

“Going from an athletic 35-year-old male running down the road playing sports to getting tired from walking from my bedroom to my kitchen,” he said.

Despite the physical and emotional toll, Wojtal says he would not change what happened and believes he was exactly where he was meant to be.

“I’m not upset,” he said .”I’m not angry. I’m happy and blessed that I was able to be in this career and be in a position to help and serve my community exactly the way that I needed to.”

Wojtal says his goal is to return to the line of duty once he is fully healed.