RIPLEY – On the evening of January 13, Officer John Amole’s life was changed forever when he attempted to detain a suspect at a traffic stop. The night ended with Amole being transported by Air Evac to UC Hospital for treatment after suffering a broken jaw and nose.
A month later, still recovering, Amole attended a benefit in his honor to help him financially until he could return to work. Thanks to the support of a group of people in Ripley, the benefit raised over $9,000 for the Amole family.
In a packed house at the Ripley American Legion, patrons took the opportunity to buy raffle tickets, food, and make donations for the injured officer. Amole is still recovering from the attack, but knows what the community really stands for.
“The community showing this much support and coming together just shows what this community is all about,” Amole said. “Ripley is not what happened on the 13th of January. This is truly what Ripley is all about, coming together as a community and supporting the people who serve and protect them.”
Amole has been off work recovering since the attack but is improving. He said he has had some of the wires taken out of his jaw, but remains on a liquid diet. He also so said the diet is something he is ready to do without.
“I just had a doctor appointment the other day and they said it would be another month to mouth and a half before I would be able to eat anything again,” Amole said. “I’m still on an all liquid diet and they took some wires out of my mouth but it’s still going to be another long haul before I am able to eat anything”
He also said he was “over” the diet and he was ready to eat something solid.
Amole, a Chillicothe native, moved to the area with his wife to be closer to her family. He comes in as a bit of an outsider, but said the people in Brown County have made him one of their own.
“They have embraced me with open arms since the first day I started working here,” Amole said. “The amount of support is just overwhelming. It is truly humbling.”
His recovery is just beginning and will take time before Amole will be back to 100 percent. He said the amount of support behind him and his family is something truly special.
