A Chicago police officer wounded in a gun battle on the city's south side last month left the hospital Wednesday after an extended stay that included 10 surgeries.
Nyls Meredith came out of Advocate Christ Medical Center in a wheelchair, greeted by the cheers of fellow officers.
"We are his extended family. I know that's said over and over again with police officers, but it is completely true and you never see it more than in a situation like this," said fellow Officer Patrick Kinney.
Nyls, a six-year veteran of the force and the father of three, was struck in the leg by a bullet while trying to stop three males in the 1300 block of West 112th Street on Aug. 29. Witnesses said they heard about 15 shots.
The alleged shooter who struck Meredith is just 15 years old.
Meredith is expected to make a full recovery but knows that's going to take some time.
"He can't wait to be back out there, which again is just really speaking to the courage and the determination of these men and women," said Supt. Garry McCarthy.
The superintendent said there have been 14 police-related shootings in Chicago in the last 30 days. Chicago, he said, confiscates three times more guns that officers in Los Angeles, and nine times more guns than officers in those in New York, per capita.
Half of the people shooting at police are convicted murderers, said McCarthy.
