After two weeks back at the Burke County sheriff's office, Investigator Martin Lawing, 32, said, "I hope to come back full time."
Lawing said his doctor gave him permission to work on a therapeutic basis.
"It's kind of like a trial to see if I can do the job," he said.
In December, Lawing was shot in the neck during a stand-off at the home of Eva Joyce Nelson, 40, off Enola Road.
He was paralyzed from the chest down, and had to regain movement in his arms. Lawing handily moves around in a manual wheelchair now.
Lawing has spent the past months undergoing physical therapy at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. He and his family recently moved back to the county as he undergoes treatment at the Phoenix Center in Denver.
The recovering investigator now spends three days a week in therapy in Denver and two days working at the office.
Most of his work has focused on making his computer and work-space user friendly. Lawing said he is using a voice program to help him type and has already started on paperwork.
Sheriff John McDevitt said, "I do hope, and I think he will be a full-time officer again."
Lawing said he is dedicated to serving the community and thankful that he has a job he wants to come to everyday.
"I've always liked coming to work ... It's a nice change to come back and get back to serving the community," Lawing said.
"Martin has really become an inspiration to all of us," McDevitt said. "Most people would probably say, 'I'll go out on disability,' but Martin doesn't want to hear that. He wants to come to work and be productive. I have every bit of confidence that that is going to happen."
He was especially thankful to the people in the community who have gathered around him and provided emotional and monetary support.
Overall, Lawing has received almost $150,000 from the community alone.
Cards expressing concern and well wishes from the community allowed the Lawing family to concentrate on rehabilitating Lawing, he said.
"It was really nice for us to have that burden lifted for us," Lawing said.
McDevitt said, "He's just an amazing individual. Where he's at a year from now no one will know, but he'll be far from where he is at right now."
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