August 28 is a day that my life changed forever. It’s a day that I have no recollection of. I know only of what occurred by what others have told me and by the pictures and news footage that I have seen. I still don’t fully comprehend how close I really was to losing my life that day.
When I awoke in the hospital a week later and was told what had happened to me I couldn’t believe it. I have been a deputy Sheriff for many years. I have seen many senseless acts of violence. To think that someone attempted to kill me and take me away from my family over a little bit of money was still difficult for me to believe.
It was during my recovery in the hospital when I was first told of the enormous outpouring of support that was coming in for my family and me. It was coming from everywhere. My co-workers in the Sheriff’s Department were literally there for my family and I 24 hours a day. I had someone at my side every moment for the three weeks I was at UCLA hospital. I was told of the huge turnout from the community at the blood drive that was held at Lost Hills Station for me.
I then began receiving hundreds of cards and get-well wishes from the community. Most of which also contained generous donations to a relief fund that was set up for me by my co-workers. As I lay there in that bed at what has been the most difficult time of my life, I can’t express how good it made me feel to read those cards. Some were from friends of mine, but a great many were from people I had never met.
I love my job as a deputy Sheriff. There were days that my partners and I enjoyed so much that we would actually joke about getting paid for something that we had so much fun doing. I have met some of the finest people in Malibu and have also made some life-long friends. I miss being out there every day.
I am now at home and I am continuing to get better everyday. I look forward to returning to work someday soon. It is unlikely that I will be able to return to work on the motorcycle and that is difficult to deal with, but I am extremely fortunate to be on the road to recovery.
I want to thank you for your support and well wishes. It has made a huge impact on my family and I. My young daughters asked me why people do bad things and why do they try to hurt people. I have no explanation to those questions. I can tell them for every bad person there are thousands more good people who really do care and the world isn’t as bad as it is sometimes made out to be. I have learned this first hand by the many generous and caring residents of Malibu and surrounding communities.
Thank you and god bless you.
Deputy Jim Mulay