Following his diagnosis of a brain tumor, one of Cottonwood Police Department’s newest officers is in need of support.
“Shortly into his law enforcement career and at just 25 years old, he was given life-changing news,” CPD Sgt. Monica Kuhlt said of officer John “Jack” Glock. “Officer Glock has gone through two surgeries since July with the last one on Oct. 30. As you can imagine, the recovery is going to be arduous.”
According to Kuhlt, prior to moving to Arizona and graduating from the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy in May, Glock was a corrections officer in Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison north of New York City.
According to Kayla Rae of Glock’s hometown, East Islip, N.Y., Glock received the life-changing diagnosis on July 31. Rae said that due to “limited access to quality neurosurgeons” in Arizona the initial procedure left part of the tumor still attached to Glock’s brain.
Glock cut ties with his first neurosurgeon, opting for treatment in Long Island, N.Y. Dr. Michael Schulder, director of the Brain Tumor Center at Northwell Health’s Neuroscience Institute, recently operated on U.S. Sen. John McCain. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, earlier this year.
“Normally, it’s next to impossible to receive care from a surgeon like Dr. Schulder, but because of the rarity of his condition, along with his age, Jack was a prime candidate to squeeze in,” Rae said. “This quality health care comes with a price, but you can’t put a price on a second chance at life.”
The reality of the costs to Glock are substantial, however, impacting his life personally and professionally:
“Jack continues to be an employee of the Cottonwood Police Department,” Kuhlt said. “However, he has exhausted all medical leave including the maximum leave per city policy donated by fellow employees.”
According Kuhlt and Rae, fundraising efforts are being conducted despite Glock’s protestations.
“Collectively, we all can make a difference,” Rae said, adding that she began crowd-sourcing donations online prior to Glock’s second surgery Oct. 30.
“Anything helps. In the end, you’d be helping a guy who deserves to live a normal, healthy life.”
To donate, visit Jack Glock’s GoFundMe page.
