Father of Wounded Park Forest Officer Speaks Out

Nearly 90 days after his son, Park Forest Police Officer Tim Jones, was shot responding to a break-in, Jones' father is opening up on his family's faith and his son's recovery. 

Chief William Jones is the Country Club Hills police chief, and he told NBC 5 he never regretted influencing his son to become a police officer. Even after the unthinkable happened. 

“I never thought I’d have to prepare myself for the knock I got on my door March 19th," Chief Jones said.

Ofc. Tim Jones was shot March 19 around 5:40 a.m. in the 300 block of Neola St in suburban Park Forest, investigating a break-in and a stolen vehicle, according to police.

Officers discovered there was a person inside the vacant residence and a perimeter was set up around the building, authorities said. The suspect tried to leave the house through a window and as officers attempted to detain him, he produced a handgun and began firing, police say. Jones was shot in the head.

At the time, doctors told William his son may not live past the next 24 hours. 

“Their prognosis immediately was pretty bleak and grim, but we thanked the doctors we told them doctors, do all you can and we are going to rely on God to do what he does," Jones said.

He said since then, his family's faith and the outpouring of support from the community has helped Tim fight to recover. 

“He’s alert and he’s been a miracle," Jones said, telling NBC 5 that his son is making huge strides in rehab. "We are taking it day by day. We are not even looking into the future, we are just thanking God for today.”

Chief Jones took part Wednesday morning in a fundraiser for the Park Forest Police Department and the non-profit 'One Step Forward for Kids,' which helps children with disabilities caused by abuse. 

The organization donated a portion of the money from their golf outing to help pay for his son's recovery. 

"He was doing his job and unfortunately this happened and his life is changed forever," said 'One Step Forward for Kids' president Becki Kostecka.

Despite the challenges he faces in the road to recovery, Chief Jones said his faith will continue to help him through this difficult time. 

"The God we serve is good and we never stop praying or believing from day one," Chief Jones said.