By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
The Aug. 10 fundraiser for Roman Forest Police Officer Greg Sammon was a huge success with close to 400 people in attendance and $15,000 raised to help offset some of Sammon’s medical and personal expenses.
Sammon was critically injured on June 17, 2019, when the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a speeding motorist while Sammon was escorting an oversized load on North Loop 610 in Houston. Sammon suffered eight broken ribs, a punctured lung and a punctured aorta, requiring life-saving hospital care and weeks of recuperation.
The benefit, held at Bull Sallas Park in New Caney, was organized by Roman Forest Police Department, Chief Stephen Carlisle, Pct. 4 Constable’s Office Citizens Academy Alumni, with a host of volunteers and supporters. Still recuperating from his injuries, Sammon attended the event to thank everyone who turned out to support him.
“I am so thankful. I don’t deserve this. I am thankful to all the people in the community, the Roman Forest City Council and Chief Stephen Carlisle,” Sammon said. “It’s been a slow process. My ribs are doing really well.”
The event was more than a fundraiser for Sammon, said Carlisle. It was a show of support for law enforcement.
“It’s about supporting the police. We had been trying to hold a fundraiser for Greg but he was against it. Finally, his wife, Linda, called me and said, ‘Let’s go ahead and do this.’ There was one criterion – the event had to be to support law enforcement, but hopefully we manage to raise some money, too,” Carlisle said.
Looking on the bright side of the experience, Sammon said he believes the accident was life-changing for one of the drivers he was escorting that day.
“A few weeks before this happened, we were on the biggest run that had ever come through Texas. It was Easter. That morning we had a safety meeting. Being that it was Easter, I was asked if I wanted to say a prayer, and I said I would,” he recalls. “One of the drivers is an old biker. We never talked about God together. After the prayer, he came up and grabbed me and said, ‘I’ve never heard a prayer like that before.’”
On the day of the near-fatal accident, in which Sammon was pinned under the vehicle that hit him and his motorcycle, Sammon watched as the man began praying for him.
“One of the drivers was kneeling next to me as I am laying on the ground. He was holding my hand and talking to me. Another driver was beside him,” Sammon said. “I looked behind them and there was the other driving. He was on his knees and praying for me.”
Sammon said that if this whole experience results in just one person receiving salvation from God, then it was worth all the pain and suffering.
“I don’t want to do this again, but it’s worth it if it changed that one life,” he said.
He plans to return to work at Roman Forest PD as soon as he gets an okay from his doctors. As for his motorcycle days, he isn’t sure if that is behind him or if he will continue to ride.
“My plan is to get back on my bike at least once and then I will see how I feel about it. If I can’t ride with confidence, like I used to do, then I will get off the bike for good,” he said.
Sammon has worked for Roman Forest PD for four years after retiring from Humble PD with 30 years of service.
Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle leads a procession of motorcycles, Jeeps, fire trucks and police vehicles for a law enforcement awareness ride on Aug. 10. The ride was part of a benefit for injured Roman Forest Police Officer Greg Sammon. 
